William Lopez > www.GregorioTies.com

William Lopez, Founder and CEO, Gregorio.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
To be an entrepreneur you need to have a vision and the fortitude to make your dream a reality. It’s like seeing through the eyes of a child: Anything is possible, No limits and Thinking outside the box.

What did inspire you to start your business?
What inspired me to start Gregorio was my realization that what I wore as a professional did not express who I was from a cultural standpoint. I see many Latinos succeeding in the United States and I wanted to celebrate it and express it via fashion.

How did you finance it?
Like many entrepreneurs, I saved and received help from a variety of business folks with various disciplines.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
It has everything to do with my business. All of our designs are rooted in Latino culture telling a story that transcend boundaries and appeal to anyone who likes to be on the cutting edge of fashion.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I think it’s more of how you think. I work a lot on positive thinking and stay away from cynical thinking. I focus on five key behaviors: awareness, acceptance, letting go, taking risks and generating.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Our current economy is challenging everyone. We are analyzing several bright spots in the apparel industry and are developing new line extensions.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Gregorio is a young company and in the field of play there are moving parts which we are modifying continuously. In a few years I should be able to narrow down my response.

What was your childhood ambition?
As a child I wanted to be a Formula One racecar driver. However, I also had a vision that I would be president of a large corporation.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
The entrepreneurs I admire are Thomas Edison for his tenacity, Bill Gates/Paul Allen for their vision and Jesús Chavarría for giving Latinos a platform of inspiration.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
I like lunch for business meetings.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
It’s a balancing act with the family activities. As an entrepreneur you are “on” 24/7, therefore, I think my relationship with my wife suffers the most, however, we both understand that we are a team and we take on life one day at a time.

What is your favorite quote?
My favorite quote is from Thomas Edison, “I haven’t failed; I’ve just succeeded in finding 999 ways how not to do it.”

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Yes, but think of our world without computers, ipods, Amazon, cell phones etc.

Biggest mistake made?
I have made many but overall I think it boils down to seeing an opportunity and not capitalizing on that opportunity.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes, I consider myself an innovator. Successful businesses understand that growth is achieved when innovation is constant. A business will not stay alive if they continue to conduct business as usual.

About the Company
Gregorio is a new apparel company rooted in Latino culture, celebrating the vibrant spirit of Latino life with a unique elegant line of men's neckwear. These stunning handmade one-of-a-kind 100% premium silk ties, known in Spanish as Corbatas, feature designs that carry over the exquisite colors and images of the Latino culture more often observed through art, architectural styles and pottery.

Our goal is to dress today's fashion conscious person for their day at the office or for the social professional occasion with an accessory which allows him or her to feel the pride and exhibit the beauty of the Latino culture.

www.gregorioties.com

Gregory Keough > www.RegaloCard.com

Gregory Keough, Founder, RegaloCard.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
A good idea and a positive can do attitude.


What did inspire you to start your business?
RegaloCard was founded to replace costly money transfer services like western union and moneygram. Money transfers are a huge market but they are 1. Costly, 2. Not instant, 3. Don’t allow the sender to control how is money is used, all key element to the person sending the money. At RegaloCard we looked at the current model and found it flawed, and we developed the RegaloCard system which accomplishes the same thing as the typical money transfer but is free and delivered instantly using mobile technology and also allows the person sending the money transfer to assure their money is spent by choosing the gift card of the retail brand where he wants the recipient to spend the money. The RegaloCard solution answers the clear consumer desire for a more friendly and cheaper, in this case free, way to send their money transfers back home to their home countries.

How did you finance it?
We invested $5 million to develop the technology and infrastructure.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
RegaloCard was founded with the idea to provide Latinos a free and instant money transfer system so our business is all about serving the US Hispanic market well with an innovative solution that both saves them money and improves their control over the money they send back home.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
The fundamental belief that RegaloCard has developed a superior business proposition and model to the current large incumbents like Western Union, Moneygram and others.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Launching new technologies is always a challenge, but at RegaloCard I think we made a very easy to use system that has made a previously cumbersome process much faster, easier, and cheaper.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Nothing yet.

What was your childhood ambition?
Always was interested in business.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Steve Jobbs, best marketer of all time.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Dinner.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
With my first company I was all consumed with the business above all else. Now, after founding 4 different companies, I think I have learned to balance much more successfully family and business, family always is top priority.

What is your favorite quote?
Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes. Oscar Wilde

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
I think it is not necessarily unconventional to see things in a new way. At RegaloCard we looked at the $200B annual business of money transfers which has existed for ages and just looked at it from a different angle. By allowing people to send Gift Cards to specific retailers in their home countries and using the latest mobile payment technology we created a free instant money transfer that we believe will replace the current costly systems.

Biggest mistake made?
Too many to list.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I would like to consider myself an innovator and think in the case of RegaloCard we have taken the money transfer industry dominated by Western Union and Moneygram that have operated in much the same way for ages with their high fees, having to visit the bank to pick up your money, and no way for the consumer to control how their money is spent. Compare this with RegaloCard where the service is free, instant, and the sender can control how their money is spent and I think it represents the essence of healthy innovation.

About the Company.
RegaloCard, www.RegaloCard.com, is a revolutionary new type of Gift Card that uses a proprietary mobile payment technology to allow immigrant groups to instantly send their relatives back home what they need absolutely free. RegaloCard is a prepaid gift card that you can buy in the United States, but is delivered instantly to the person you choose in your home country, to make purchases at leading local retailers. The RegaloCard service works with any mobile phone and carrier worldwide and is the best way for immigrants to send their families the things they need. While initially focusing on the US Hispanic market, RegaloCard plans to expand the service to other regions that have a high level of immigrants residing in the US. For more information visit www.RegaloCard.com

Diony Elias > www.newcityinvestment.com

Diony Elias, Founder and President, New City Investment Solutions, LLC. And founder of The Epix Group LLC.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
In order to be an entrepreneur, a person needs an idea and a tenacious devotion to execute that idea. One also needs relentless faith in their vision and the ability to be resilient.

What did inspire you to start your business?
I was inspired by: a) Justin Moore, my real estate business partner, b) Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad and c) Hip Hop entrepreneurship, Jay-Z in particular.

How did you finance it?
I financed both my businesses by living under my means. I sacrificed autonomy by living at home for four years. As a result, I was able to build enough capital to buy NCI's first property and finance The Epix Group's first event. Albeit personally financed, I'm always looking for investors to help my businesses grow.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Yes - being Hispanic does have an influence on both my businesses. I'm always socially conscious of how to make a philanthropic impact in the Hispanic community. For example, EPIX has partnered with non-profit organizations that focus on Hispanic, educational initiatives. NCI invests in low-income, Hispanic communities in hopes of aesthetically improving their neighborhoods' condition. We also work with first-time homebuyers.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
This is a good question - adversity is definitely prevalent. I think about how much I dislike sitting at a corporate desk, with no control of my own time. I value my time above all.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
NCI is not generating properties as fast as I would like due to the overall real estate market. Banks are not as benevolent and investors are "playing it safe" now-a-days, even if NCI does have an impeccable track record on return. EPIX is at the brink of becoming a major player in New York City, but needs to raise marketing dollars in order for our products to receive more exposure.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
I wish we would've hired more summer interns [smile].

What was your childhood ambition?
To become an attorney

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Robert Kiyosaki, a real estate investors that believes in cash flow properties (buy, hold, rent, profit). Jay-Z, a multi-millionaire who became something from nothing. My mother, who taught me the fundamentals and importance of saving money as a child.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
All three

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I had to live at home under my mother's rules until the age of 27, before I could buy my personal home and quit my job.

What is your favorite quote?
"9 - 5 is how you survive. I'm not trying to survive, I'm trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot." - Jay-Z

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Not at all, I love being unconventional. No one's at the gym when I work out [smile].

Biggest mistake made?
I once lost 3k trying to sell Madonna tickets. I failed to market a good product properly. I made a good date out of it.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Absolutely, everyday as an entrepreneur a problem arises and I have to think of creative solutions.

About the Companies.
New City Investment Solutions, LLC (NCI) is a real estate investment company that focuses on residential development. NCI specializes in providing investment opportunities and educational resources to both investors and homeowners. NCI develops, owns and manages residential real estate in the greater Philadelphia area.
www.newcityinvestment.com

The Epix Group, LLC - Founder and Director of Operations
The Epix Group, LLC is a promotional marketing company focused on redefining lifestyle and brand experiences for our clients. Our services include brand marketing, venue consultation, corporate and special events, nightlife promotions and high-end concierge services. EPIX has been successfully operating and accommodating clients in New York, Miami and Las Vegas since 2005.
www.theepixgroup.com

Mariela Dabbah > www.latinosincollege.com

Mariela Dabbah, Owner, LatinosinCollege.com

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
I think you need four key things:
1) You need to have a passion for what you do because that passion is what will drive you forward.
2) You have to be immune to rejection because no matter what you do, you will have to “sell” yourself. Everything is about relationships and this is never truer than for an entrepreneur.
3) You have to be perseverant in the face of challenges, rejection or closed doors.
4) And you have to have the ability to live with uncertainty as you will be creating your own income and sometimes, you won’t know where your next check will be coming from.

What inspired you to start your business?
The desire to make my own decisions and have control over my schedule and over what projects I get involved with.

How did you finance it?
Because I’m a writer, a speaker and a consultant, I didn’t need too much money to start. But in the beginning I asked my parents to help me out until I could get my first few clients.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Everything I do is to help Latinos improve their lives and navigate the American system successfully, so being Hispanic gives me the understanding of the culture needed to develop books and programs from the perspective of the audience I’m addressing.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I have a positive outlook on life so when I face adversity I call my friends and colleagues and get advice on how to move forward.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
To launch a nationwide public awareness campaign to help increase the number of Latinos who graduate from college in February 09 when all everyone is talking about is the economy!

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Nothing, I really love what I do and it’s going well!

What was your childhood ambition?
To be a writer.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
I’ll just mention one for now: Mariebelle the founder of Mariebelle Fine Chocolates because she took a product like chocolate and turned it into a unique experience by combining excellent quality with some fabulous branding.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Whatever works for everyone involved. I think being flexible is part of having a winning attitude.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
For several years I had no life! No vacations, no weekends, no holiday breaks… but it all paid off and I always enjoyed what I did so much that I didn’t notice. (Well, maybe I did notice a little…)

What is your favorite quote?
I don’t really live by quotes but I enjoy the expression of a famous Argentine comedian: “Whenever it has rained, it has stopped.” It helps me get over difficult times as it reminds me that at some point everything comes to an end.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
I’m not sure. I guess this is part of my personality so for me it comes easy. What is hard is to come up with new ideas that work in the market.

Biggest mistake made?
Not having focused on my work in the media earlier.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I think I do. I’m constantly coming up with new ideas that I am able to implement quickly. I tend to be ahead of the curve which is at the same time exciting and very challenging because when you do that, you have to educate your market and that takes a huge effort.

About the Company.
As an author, speaker and consultant, the focus of my company is to help Latinos navigate the American system successfully. My areas of expertise are: education, parent involvement in education, job search and career advancement.
www.tuvozentuvida.com

Martha Diaz > www.hiphopassociation.org

Martha Diaz, Founder, Hip Hop Association

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
To be an entrepreneur you must be able to sell a product or service for a profitable return. The product or service doesn’t necessary need to be socially responsible or good for the people. I consider myself a social entrepreneur, someone who sells products and services to solve a problem that affects society.

What did inspire you to start your business?
As a filmmaker and educator, I was frustrated by the lack of opportunities, resources, and platforms available to those who wish to use Hip-Hop culture as a tool to communicate, and empower the community. Instead of getting mad, I created my own platform, resources, and opportunities. I began with an idea of Hip-Hop film festival and then created a Hip-Hop education summit, until it became a full-fledged organization.

How did you finance it?
I used social capital; I started by organizing my community and gathered people who were feeling the same way. I also used my own funds to support my vision.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Hispanics have certainly been influential in my business; Hip-Hop culture was started in the Bronx by African American, Caribbean, and Hispanic youths. Being Hispanic has allowed me to go beyond the US and reach Hip-Hop members from Latin American, and Spanish speakers in Europe, Canada, and Australia.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I never let adversity stop me from getting the work done. I usually choose to scale down or find alternative solutions.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Our biggest challenge is acquiring monetary funds. We always have to tap into our social capital whenever we can’t raise funds. Another big challenge is getting the publicity for the work that we do; the celebrities are always outshining us.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
I would have started our distribution initiative sooner because of its earned income potential.

What was your childhood ambition?
I have always wanted to solve the world problems and help those who have been marginalized and disenfranchised. I especially wanted to care for the youth and sick people because they are so vulnerable. I remember wanting to cure cancer because my grandmother died of cancer at a young age.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire
Florence Nightingale – Despite the disapproval of her mother, Nightingale, an affluent upper class woman chose to become a nurse in 1845. Amongst her many accomplishments, this statistician cared for the poor and was a pioneer in the medical and education fields.
Mohammad Yunus - Bangladeshi banker, economist and 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Yunus, is the founder of the Grameen Bank. As a professor of economics, he developed the concept of microcredit that provides loans to entrepreneurs too poor to qualify for traditional bank loans.
Paulina Maestre – Paulina was my grandmother, who worked at a telecommunications company as an operator, assisted the Governor’s office, and ran a bed and breakfast out of her home to raise 12 children in Valledupar, Colombia.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Any of these will do, as long as: You are able to make it on time, don’t overeat or get drunk.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I have sacrificed my two children to give to many. If it wasn’t for my mother helping me to care for my daughters, I would not be able to do as much as I do. I have also sacrificed my own personal time, funds, and friends in order to keep the business going.

What is your favorite quote?
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. ~ Margaret Mead

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Absolutely difficult, especially when people can’t envision the change or break old habits.

Biggest mistake made?
My biggest mistake is that I didn’t begin sooner.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I consider myself an innovator because I have helped set a new standard and way of participating within Hip-Hop culture that transcends Hip-Hop. I am also the first woman to receive the Kool Herc Award. The highest recognition in Hip-Hop culture given by the Father of Hip-Hop.

About the Company
Formed in 2002, the Hip-Hop Association [H2A] is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community building organization. Now in its 7th year, the H2A is the recipient of the Union Square Arts Award and it’s considered one of the leading international Hip-Hop institutions. The mission of the H2A is to facilitate social justice, education and media reform, cross-cultural understanding, economic sustainability, and civic engagement, while preserving Hip-Hop culture for scholarship and future generations. The H2A empowers the community through programming, youth and leadership development, human rights advocacy, educational resources, and distribution mechanisms. www.hiphopassociation.org

Al Costa > www.1hourflex.com

Al Costa, Owner, Alkol Inc.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Basically to be able to work alone. If you can´t be by yourself long periods of the day then don´t even try, because that´s exactly what you´ll be doing in the first stages of your project.
What did inspire you to start your business?Seeing people who made it and they can provide a good standard of living for their families, while others are subject to jobs they cannot control and thus live in fear.

How did you finance it?
Good question. How did I do it? I don´t know, one dollar a time?

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
None: the US is very open to all nationalities. If you show VALUE then you are in!

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
By knowing that´s just part of the game, routine, and that will repeat itself.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Finding capable people to work with.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Its address! If it could be located in Palo Alto then it´d be much cheaper for me to pitch VCs!

What was your childhood ambition?
Being a world-known scientist.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire
Steve Jobs, Vinod Khosla, and ESPECIALLY Richard Branson

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Breakfast: people are much more receptive, there´s a sense of "this is a new day" that helps a lot.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Missed lots of parties and merry good fun!

What is your favorite quote?
"No battle was ever won while hiding behind walls" Napoleon Bonaparte

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Very: you get fed up of being called genius today by the very same guy who called you crazy yesterday.

Biggest mistake made?
Bet 6 years in the music industry: they still think the internet does not exist.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I remember when I was in college I was called "gadget man" because I had gizmos that nobody even knew existed, and for me they were the most common thing in the world.

About the Company
Alkol Inc is the maker of the "1HourFlex" conversion device that allows any car to run on any amount of gasoline or ethyl alcohol using BRAZILIAN technology. Brazil has been running 1/2 of its fleet on 100% ethanol for the past 30 years, and therefore has unmatched experience. Alkol Inc brings that experience into a range of products that allow everyone to save on the gas pump and polluting less.

Doctora Aliza > VidaySalud.com

Doctora Aliza, Owner, VidaySalud.com

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
If you look at some definitions of entrepreneur you’ll find they say that you need to be willing to put EVERYTHING ON THE LINE FOR THE PASSION AND LOVE of seeing your enterprise grow... and sometimes live with several failures. I believe you need to be passionate about what you believe in and work hard to get it.

What did inspire you to start your business?
The VidaySalud.com website was born of the need to provide accurate, scientifically-based information for a community that didn’t have it. There are many excellent websites in English where people can get health information when they need it. VidaySalud.com is not only in Spanish but it provides the information in a culturally sensitive way to a community that often doesn’t have access to health services. Or that, because of language barriers, has difficulty communicating with its healthcare providers. This website will not replace their physicians but will help answer some of their questions or help them know what questions to ask when they go to see their doctors next time.

How did you finance it?
This is a venture that my husband and I believe in and we’ve capitalized it ourselves.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Of course! This is a business by Hispanics for Hispanics.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I’ve always been an optimist. When I chose to go to medical school in Mexico City, where I was born, women didn’t go to medical school. Everyone, including my parents, discouraged me from going, because they wanted me to have a career and they thought I wouldn’t finish. And, even if I finished, that it would be very hard to be able to combine a family life with a professional life. Needless to say they were very supportive once I decided to start and very proud when I finished. You can see the glass half full or half empty. You can fight for what you believe in or give up. If you have a passion and love what you do and work hard for it, I believe the rest will follow. Especially with something like this that I believe will help so many people.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
It is brand new, we just announced it. The biggest challenge so far has been that when we originally planned our project and started structuring it and building the website the economy was not in as bad shape as it is today and we are the sole investors. This is the biggest challenge. But it has been received with lots of enthusiasm by potential sponsors so we’re very excited and hopeful.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Maybe starting a year earlier.

What was your childhood ambition?
Doing something creative that would help people and would change the world. I’m happy to say that medicine has allowed me to do that.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire
Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Warren Buffet . They have not only been successful entrepreneurs but they’ve given back to society.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Lunch

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I’ve been working very long hours in my profession. This has made me spend less time with my family, my friends and have less personal time. At least the good news about the website is that it is a venture with my husband.

What is your favorite quote?
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Sometimes. But if I were different I wouldn’t be me.

Biggest mistake made?
There are things I might have done differently, but I’m not sure that I would necessarily call them a mistake. They may have turned out better…or worse.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes. I believe that I’ve been an innovator in the way I’ve been bringing public health information to the Latino community through my media career and the culmination of this innovation is in my website.

About the Company
VidaySalud.com™, which launched on June 1, 2009, is published by Cultural Asset Management Inc. of Santa Monica, California. Its mission is to be the most widely recognized and trusted provider of Spanish-language health information, across all media.

VidaySalud.com™ is edited by Univision, People en Español, Ser Padres and impreMedia health expert Aliza Lifshitz, M.D., better known to the Latino community as la Doctora Aliza.

“No one is more trusted on health by the Latino community than la Doctora Aliza,” according to Carl Kravetz, the site’s publisher and a 25-year veteran of Hispanic advertising and Past Chairman of the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies. “With her as Editor in Chief and with science-based content delivered in the warm, caring style she is known for, VidaySalud.com™ is unmatched in credibility.”

The VidaySalud.com™ hub is the largest permanent source of health information and wellness tools in Spanish on the web. It includes “Health A to Z,” the Harvard Medical School’s searchable database of symptoms, diseases and treatments, as well as original health content, updated daily and created especially with the U.S. Hispanic community in mind. Eleven bi-weekly email newsletters on a variety of health topics are available through free registration. Interactive health tools will be added as they are developed with sponsor support.

VidaySalud.com™ is a tangible expression of Dr. Lifshitz’s commitment to public health. Its content is designed to enhance the relationships between Latino patients and their physicians by giving Hispanics the information, tools and skills they need to better communicate with their doctors, to ensure better compliance with physician instructions and to deliver better health outcomes.

VidaySalud.com™ is working closely with the Doctora Aliza Foundation, whose mission is to increase the number of Hispanic health professionals being educated in the United States through medical and nursing school scholarships and outreach to High School guidance counselors.

Juan Silvera > www.hispanicsmb.com

Juan Silvera, Owner, HispanicSMB.com

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Two things primarily: total conviction that your business concept is a winner and the tenacity to pursue your dream business through thick and thin.

What did inspire you to start your business?
I always wanted to do something that could have a positive impact on the many Latinos and Latinas that dream of owning their own business here in the United States.

How did you finance it?
Self financed. I wanted to make a point that with the technology available to us today we can reach thousands of people without making a significant investment from the get go.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Yes. Networking and community building are things that are instinctive to many Hispanics and it just so happens that they are critical to succeeding in business.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I always remind myself that nothing that is worth building is ever easy. I am convinced that what I am doing is important and can have a meaningful, positive impact on others and that keeps me going.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
It is very difficult to achieve critical mass without significant marketing and PR investment. Many small businesses grow nicely at an organic rate but taking it to the next level is never easy.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
We would love to partner with a larger media organization that could help us expose our product to the hundreds of thousands of potential Hispanic small businesses that are not yet taking advantage of the free resources our site
provides.

What was your childhood ambition?
Simply to be happy. To this day it is still my primary goal in life.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire
1. David Segura, CEO of VisionIT. David has single handedly built the most successful Hispanic-owned business IT shop in the United States. I’ve met David and his success is humbling.
2. The Google Guys. They basically re-defined a medium and created an entire industry category while making a few billions along the way.
3. My dad, Manuel Silvera. He ran his own travel agency (back in the days before the Internet) and built a niche market by catering to the cash-only Hispanic market. It worked.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Dinner.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I can think of many futbol games I missed on Fox Sports because I was working on the site.

What is your favorite quote?
“Good things come to those who wait, but not to those who wait too late.”

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
No. It is more difficult to be “conventional.”

Biggest mistake made?
Not starting a business right out of college.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I think so. Innovation is not just about thinking out of the box. Innovation is also identifying underserved niches in the market and I think with HispanicSMB.com we have done just that.

About the Company
Juan Silvera is editor and publisher of HispanicSMB.com, the online community for the 1.6 million Hispanic-owned small and medium sized businesses in the United States. The site provides depth of resources, content and community for the fast growing Latino business community. HispanicSMB.com the ideal platform for marketers wishing to reach Hispanic business owners, entrepreneurs and managers -- an affluent and highly desirable but elusive segment of the market.

Karen Davis > www.qventures.tv

Karen Davis, Owner and Founder, QVentures.TV

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Three "P's": Passion, perseverance and a pot-full of money( or at least the patience and diligence to go out and find it.) Plus I think you need a sense of humor and an ability to be your own best cheerleader.

What did inspire you to start your business?
Being laid off or going through a massive corporate restructuring has the effect on people of either making themselves doubt or self-motivate. I took the latter position. I am motivated by nay-sayers. Tell me it can't be done or has never been done and I am your gal.

How did you finance it?
Self-financed along with advertising sales & licensing revenues.

Being Hispanic, does it have any influence on your business?
I am not Hispanic, but have "un alma latina." For over twenty years I have been at the forefront of the Latin American and US Hispanic media industry, helping employ hundreds of people, launching new businesses and raising millions of dollars in revenues. Comes from an early passion with all things "en español."

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Eternal optimism and hope. And looking at my six-year old son.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Small minded people who don't understand big ideas. And running out of money.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
In my business, I'd like to have easier access to capital for start-ups.
In the industry, I'd love to see the day when more Board members and key decision-makers in Hispanic broadcasting, Internet and Mobile were women.

What was your childhood ambition?
To be a pilot or a "lexicographer."

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire
Bill Gates- not just for the obvious reasons. More so for his decision to leave Microsoft and dedicate his time and fortune to his foundation and humanitarian work.
Fernando Espuelas- an eternal optimist who not only made and lost a $500 million fortune but has rebounded, re-made himself and is truly a great, generous guy.
My husband, Nick Athanassiadis, who is probably the smartest man I know.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Breakfast but not before 8am or lunch.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
When most of my friends and colleagues were marrying and starting families, I was on planes, in hotels or in foreign countries launching new businesses, first in Eastern Europe, then in Latin America.
For me, there were times that felt like I was sacrificing a "way of life" but, in truth, it was more exhilarating and gratifying than sacrificial. My health was probably the one thing I really consider a "sacrifice"as I neglected to incorporate good eating, exercise and sleeping habits into my daily routine and instead was always on the go.
It took its toll on me a few times and has convinced me that health, spirituality, family must be included with work to have a complete and fulfilling life. Otherwise one’s "center" is just too far away and challenges become daunting.

What is your favorite quote?
"El mundo es un pañuelo."

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Compared to being conventional? I wouldn't know.

Biggest mistake made?
I think if I've made mistakes in business it was in hiring the wrong people for particular positions. I can think of two instances where that was the case and I knew they were wrong for the job in my gut both times and still hired them.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Absolutely. My career has been one of many "firsts" and to me that is the definition of an innovator: someone who dreams up an idea or is faced with a new situation and makes it a reality, first.
First Creative Director for HBO's International ventures. First Exec Producer, launching MTV in Spanish language in US and Latin America. First to sign a major US sports league deal with a Spanish TV network.
Convincing consumers in Hungary to purchase a brand called "H-B-O" when the letter "H" doesn't exist in their language . What I do well is seize upon an idea and bring it to life in a way that works for all its share- and stakeholders.
If there's a need, I work hard to find a solution.

About the Company:
Ventures is a new kind of company dedicated to the concept of sustainable media
Developing programs and applications that, from inception, are created using a three -screen strategy: to reach consumers where, when and how they consume on-air, online and on hand-held devices:

Programs that give back to society
Enhance consumer’s ability to be entertained and empowered while increasing advertisers' reach
Ensure that those involved SUSTAIN their businesses during these tough times

Tanya Trahtemberg > www.tanyatrahtemberg.com

Tanya Trahtemberg, Owner & Jewelry Designer, Tanya Trahtemberg.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Vision, Perseverance, and Lots of Patience

What did inspire you to start your business?
The need to be independent and successful.

How did you finance it?
Little by little... always re-investing in what I believed.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
A great deal, inspiration comes from my roots and also from my background.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I have deep convictions on my mission of life, that is what definitely keeps me going.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Having to start over again!

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
The system... it always gets stuck at one time or another.

What was your childhood ambition?
Reach peoples hearts, live a happy and peaceful life.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire
My grandfather, uncle and brother.... they have definitely influenced my vision of business.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Mainly dinner, that way I don't get interrupted from work.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Investing much time at work though it really doesn't feel like a sacrifice to me, I enjoy doing what I do.

What is your favorite quote?
There is not a more certain sign of insanity than to do the same thing over and over again, and expect the results to be different. Albert Einstein

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Not really, it just takes a creative mind... and courage.

Biggest mistake made?
Fighting with friends and family over work...

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes I do, I like to create solutions for people, and put a smile on their face.

About the Company:
Tanya Trahtemberg was born into the fourth generation of a family of jewelers who have made their mark in the industry since 1905. From the beginning, her Italian Great-Grandfather set the standard of quality and finesse that has guided Tanya through her years in the business.

Jewelry design is an inspiration that comes from within; it cannot be taught. Creating exceptional jewelry comes from years of experience. Head designer Tanya Trahtemberg has both.

The Tanya Trahtemberg workshop is located in the heart of the trendy business district of Miraflores, in Lima, Peru, close to the main store. This allows for a smooth flow of ideas between the designer and her jewelers.
Tanya is constantly traveling to find the most unique stones for which she designs exclusive pieces: hand carved Peruvian stones, tourmalines from Brazil, emeralds from Colombia, diamonds from Israel and many others. Inspiration comes from these travels and from the stones themselves.

All pieces are handmade with the utmost attention to detail. We only use 18 karat yellow and white gold or sterling silver to create these beautiful pieces that will become an integral part of your life.

For more information: http://www.tanyatrahtemberg.com/

Mauricio T. Lizarazo > www.pachamamaculture.com

Mauricio Tigges Lizarazo, Founder, Pachamama Culture.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Among many things, essentially I believe one needs Emotional capital; the aspiration, passion and perseverance to reach your dreams and succeed.

What did inspire you to start your business?
Passion for music, cultures and business. I've been involved with music from both sides, artistically and economically, since I was a teenager. Consequently it has become my lifestyle, the way I approach life and embrace opportunities.

How did you finance it?
Back in Berlin, I received support from the State to develop the concept of Pachamama Culture in the German Market. Back then it was a very small capital, but it got me to start establishing contacts, presenting music artists live and internationally.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Producing Latin-Alternative artists with Hispanic origins gives that sense of concentrations and know-how while networking and working outside the specific niche markets.
In the Hispanic/Latin entertainment and media market, it requires being determined about the Hispanic origins towards professionalism and efficient business models practices.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
As mentioned, Passion through self-motivation. I’m committed to keep trying, achieving small results one-at-a-time motivates me to reach better results on the projects I’m involved in the mid-long term. In the meantime I’m learning and enjoying the ride.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Building up further a positive and professional reputation in an industry with questionable business models. The lack of reliability one encounters on potential partners and people in the entertainment and media industry it’s a constant challenge.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Some business models the [Latin] music industry has been practicing. Also realiability of some individuals involve in the industry.

What was your childhood ambition?
During my childhood I dreamed being a rock star. I dreamed about being the fifth Beatle. I believe on traveling, touring and playing live music all over the planet.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire
They are what I call my three ‘R’ models:

Richard Branson (Virgin Founder & Entrepreneur). Branson is a role model on visionary independent work.

Russell Simmons (Def Jam). Simmons is a great example of commitment and deep believe into urban talent forms.

Rafael Lizarazo (Entrepreneur & Consultant). My father has showed me true satisfaction is near while you do what you love and have a sincere passion doing it.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Probably dinner, music concert and backstage networking.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Being away from my daughter. While touring, traveling, networking, studying etc. away from her is still a constant sacrifice. At the same time I’m working to resolve the geographical distance to be close to her.

What is your favorite quote?
"As you think, so you become. As you think, so you develop. As is your ideal, so gradually your life will become. This is so, because there is a great transforming power in thought." SS

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
No if it’s your lifestyle and the way you approach life, it’s part of what you are.

Biggest mistake made?
Taking decisions about a live-tour for an artist I represented relaying on a supposedly record label support that never came, waste of energy and time.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
At some grade I am. In a sense, throughout my commitment and perseverance working with Latin-Alternative artists opening opportunities at niche markets or in markets where there’s no music industry established, requires re-inventing yourself and innovative thinking and doing.

About the company:
Pachamama Culture was founded primarily as a concert management agency and has developed into a full-service venture, including booking, integrated marketing and music management for Latin Alternative artists. Currently, Pachamama Culture represents El Sie7e, La Severa Matacera internationally and Panteón Rococó in the US east-coast market. Consequently throughout executive production, the company associated with the music producers and distribution companies founding Kallpa Records, an indie label committed to license and market Pachamama Culture’s recording artists.
Please check: www.pachamamaculture.com and www.kallparecords.com

Amanda Smith > www.amandasmithcaterers.com

Amanda Smith, Owner, Amanda Smith Caterers.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Instinct for ideas and a passion for believing that it can happen.

What did inspire you to start your business?
Running. I was running around the reservoir in central park, thinking about the park, about the summer and the upcoming concerts... and it occured to me that there was no service that existed that provided picnic baskets for the more than 100,000 attendees of these concerts. That summer, I was the first service that did.

How did you finance it?
Initially from my savings and then from the banks - I wish I had found another alternative.

Being Hispanic... Does it have any influence on your business?
It has a cache but not an influence. The influence is more from my background living all over the world.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I don't know.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Needing to find a way to go from a ground level to the first level and then on. Each level is a challenge because you have to sacrifice in order to be recognized.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
The structure. Too much lies on me at the moment and at this stage it is more probelematic to adjust.

What was your childhood ambition?
To be a stewardess and travel!

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Lunch - como buena Mexicana!

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Time with my daughter - time for myself.

What is your favorite quote?
Follow your fears or be lead by your passion. Anonymous

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Yes. One needs a lot of conviction and thick skin.

Biggest mistake made?
Leaving my first job when I was 21 (Mandarin Oriental Traineeship just out of college)

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I have original ideas but in my business it all so much the same that I do not consider them to be innovative, they are logical.

About the company:
Amanda Smith Caterers is a boutique catering and event planning company that services the metropolitan area. We offer foods not only from my native Mexico but from all over the world. Unlike other catering companies our interest is the food so everything is made authentically and with much attention. In addition we have an experienced crew that meets all needs with care.

Teresa Saldivar > www.teresasjewelers.com

Teresa Saldivar, Owner, Teresa's Jewelers

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Careful planning and hard work are important, but having the ability to properly and quickly execute the fundamentals is vital.
What did inspire you to start your business?
To open a business that would offer the highest standard of customer service with a professional staff that would create a positive shopping experience

How did you finance it?
Using my personal savings and financial support from my family.

Being Hispanic… Does it have any influence on your business?
Yes, being a Latina is an asset, especially because my business is located in Downtown Santa Ana, where 85 percent of the population is Latino.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I see adversity as a challenge that allows me the opportunity to learn whether I have the capacity to endure it or the need for growth in a certain area.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
When I relocated from a 465-square-foot store with three employees to a 1735-square-foot store with seven employees and my overhead tripled overnight.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
I would love not having to work weekends.

What was your childhood ambition?
That I would one day become a woman with confidence and poise.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
I admire Coco Chanel, Walt Disney, and Oprah Winfrey, each born into poverty who attained self-satisfaction by being pioneering (Chanel), visionary (Disney), and humanitarian (Winfrey).

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Breakfast or dinner, not lunch, because it keeps me away from attending to my customers.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Having to postpone my continuing education and not being able to share quality time with family and friends.

What is your favorite quote?
There can be no real freedom without the freedom to fail – Erich From

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
When you have confidence and initiative—no it is not.

Biggest mistake made?
Not having the resourcefulness to have purchased the building where my business stands.

Do you consider yourself an innovator?
Yes, because I introduced avant-garde jewelry to my Latino customers—a culture that is supposed to be status quo.

About the Company
Nowhere in Orange County will you find a better selection of religious medals or quinceañera jewelry. As a certified gemologist, Teresa can create your custom design for any occasion. Teresa is currently President of the California Jewelers Association

Teresa Saldivar, a Santa Ana native, graduated Santa Ana College and attended California State University at Long Beach. In 1985, after ten years of working in the jewelry industry, Teresa became the first Latina gemologist to own a jewelry store in California. Along with her sister, Patricia, Teresa's Jewelers has been in the same location at the heart of Downtown Santa Ana for over 20 years!

Julieta Caracoche > www.altuntunno.com

Sofia Lanusse (top) and Julieta Caracoche (bottom), Founders, Al tun tun No

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?

A free spirit and a strong will.

What did inspire you to start your business?

Our love for Buenos Aires and art, the good living, smart people and designer shoes.

How did you finance it?

We had some money from our families. But not much.

Being Hispanic… Does it have any influence on your business?

A lot. We are warm people in Buenos Aires, and our job is to show around the very best spots where hot latin blood flows.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?

We decide to believe in the project.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

To make us know with no funds.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?

We have quite a lot of fun with our job. We like the things how they are, so far..

What was your childhood ambition?

Julieta: I wanted to be a dancer and a writer. I dance quite a lot and still plan to be a writer. A good one.

Sofía: When I was a child I wanted to be an artist, I've always love painting and drawing; and arqueologist, I love that feeling when you find somethnig amazing out of nowhere.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?

Benedikt Taschen. He started as a comic collector and then created "Taschen" that made art books accesible for everybody.

Eduardo Costantini: He is a self made man also passioned about art, and created a great museum (MALBA) that is a gift for Buenos Aires and its visitors.

J. K. Rowling: We love thinking of her sitting in cold London, writting on a napkin such a success as Harry Potter.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

Lunch and a sunny day.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?

Sleeping hours.

What is your favorite quote?

"Al tuntún no!" "Al tuntún no!"

Is it difficult to be unconventional?

No, it's very natural. We were born this way.

Biggest mistake made?

We didn't have a possitive attitude in the very beggining. Fortunately we changed our energy and things begun to work.

Do you consider yourself an innovator?

Yes. Al tuntún no was an idea that just came to us, and no one was doing the tours we have created.

About the Company

"Al tuntún no" is the first agency of high trend tourism for women in Buenos Aires. They offered cool tours around the city: cultural and shopping tours. The favorite of many is the shoe-shopping tour, a day dedicated to buy shoes, handbags and accessories, have lunch at a chic restaurant or take a delicious tea, accompanied by a chauffeur during the entire journey.

The girls of "Al tuntún no" are a team of young locals, passionate for art, fashion, shoes and good living, who accompany their clients during the tours, advising and showing them places and secrets of this fascinating city. A good option for women who travel alone, or for businessmen, who may travel with their partners, and prefer not to leave them getting bored in the hotel room.

Maria Eugenia Price > www.miamariu.com

Maria Eugenia Price, Founder & CEO, Mía Mariú LLC

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
You need a dream, passion, drive, tenacity and most importantly faith.

What did inspire you to start your business?
A desire to help others in a market with unmet needs.

How did you finance it?
To date it has been self-funded.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?

Being Hispanic is our identity it is who we are and what we do. Our company is exclusively dedicated to meet the beauty and health needs of Latina women.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Faith that God is ultimately in control and that all things work for the good.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Our business is relationship based. Finding the right people is key. Building brand takes time.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Grow faster. Every entrepreneur wants to grow their business fast. However, it is important to be realistic about how long it really takes to build a sustainable business.

What was your childhood ambition?
Travel the world, I was blessed I got a chance to visit a lot of wonderful places before I embarked on my entrepreneurial journey.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Cristina Saralegui for having evolved into a great media personality and a great example of success for Latina women reaching the American Dream.

Richard Branson for his brilliant ability to diversify his businesses with a very unique business approach and management style

Mary C. Crowley Founder of Home Interiors & Gifts who created a multi-million dollar company with a unique mission: to lead others to seek their highest potential by honoring God and blessing and serving others.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Definitely lunch, it is easier to stay focused.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Time with family as well as time for myself at times has become sacrificed but I believe you must continuously fill your cup so you can give your business the energy it needs from you. If you don’t take care of yourself, who will take care of your business?

What is your favorite quote?
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
You have to be unconventional to try something you have never tried before. This entails taking risks and facing your biggest fears. You have to be willing to take the risk and face your fears if you want to achieve success.

Biggest mistake made?
Everyone makes mistakes, the important thing is to learn from them. Mistakes happen, it is part of life.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I believe there are markets that are underserved, when you meet the market needs that can be called innovative. In our case, we have taken the traditional direct sales model and made it into a more innovative relevant model for today’s woman. We have also developed a targeted product line that really addresses the needs of Latina women. We are the first to do this in the direct sales industry, I believe some might consider this innovative.

About the Company

Mía Mariú is dedicated to serve and fulfill the beauty and health needs of Latinas. Mía Mariú offers an innovative business opportunity. Mía Mariú markets a line of products that nourishes and protects skin with a color line of products and techniques specifically designed for the diverse skin tones of Latinas, as well as a natural-based Skin Care Treatment line and line of nutritional supplements with natural ingredients known in Latin cultures for their health benefits. Based in Dallas, Texas, Mía Mariú products are sold through a national network of Independent Associates. For more information, please visit www.miamariu.com

Carlos Zuniga > www.bessibycarloszuniga.com

Carlos Zuniga, Owner, Bessi Fashion Shoe Line

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?

A dream and perseverance.

What did inspire you to start your business?

My creativity and the dream of becoming a designer.

How did you finance it?

I financed the first couple of years. I later got an "Angel Investor", also known as my parents.

Being Hispanic… Does it have any influence on your business?

Absolutely. The design aesthetics of my work are highly influenced by my Latin culture.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?

Success stories keep me going. There are many others who have had to struggle much harder than I ever have. So ultimately any obstacle can be a blessing.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

Bessi is a fairly new line. The biggest challenge has been management and operations. When all you know is creativity and fashion, it's hard to understand business development. It took a lot of research.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?

I'm actually quite content with my business and the direction it is going.

What was your childhood ambition?

To be free. To love what you do and be great at it.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?

My parents, hands down. Also, my very good friend Vincent. He accomplished his dream at only 26. His positive energy is amazing.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

Dinner in Shanghai, Rome, or Miami!!

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?

Well, let's just say I dedicate a lot more time at this than other things. As far as success, that is an ongoing challenge.

What is your favorite quote?

"Dejate de vainas"

Is it difficult to be unconventional?

Yes. It requires discipline.

Biggest mistake made?

Ha, plenty of those. I just try to turn them around.

Do you consider yourself an innovator?

An innovator in the way I project my designs, yes.

Born in New Orleans, son of a soccer star and an international executive, Carlos Zuniga began designing at a very young age. Educated at the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale, the design aesthetic of Latin-American Carlos Zuniga encompasses cultural values of Miami, New Orleans and Latin America. It is evident in Zuniga’s work that many of his designs are influenced by Miami’s lifestyle. Inspired by the sexy, confident Latin woman, Carlos seeks to compliment all women with their beauty with his designs. Beginning in 2006, Zuniga began his project while living in Miami by sketching concepts for friends. Believing that shoes can very well compliment a woman, and having a keen eye for fashion, his designs were quickly noticed. After a strong demand to begin his own line, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to develop his very own line of women’s shoes called Bessi by Carlos Zuniga. The line is named after his greatest inspiration, his mother. Today, Bessi by Carlos Zuniga continues developing its collection and will exclusively be available in March 2009 at www.bessibycarloszuniga.com

Anthony Reyes > www.reyesclothinginc.com

Anthony Reyes, President & CEO Reyes Clothing Company

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
I come from a humble hard working Latin family , to be a entrepreneur the first things is never to let no one or anything say you can not do it , you need ambition , motivation, will and the most important thing is to believe in yourself.
What did inspire you to start your business?
It all started in HS , I found out I have a secret love for art and ever since I use to just do graffiti everywhere until the time came and started making money out of it , and now I put my art my vision and thoughts on clothes, and from there is where Reyes Clothing Inc came. I saw it as a great opportunity to take my ideas to the next level.

How did you finance it?
It all came out of pocket and then from money I made I put it back in untill now and just thank god it keep on growing.

Being Hispanic...Does it have any influence on your business?
Yes it does it allows me to expand my market without limits.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I don't let no one tell me it can not be done. I believe in myself and know that I ( Reyes Clothing Comp Inc ) will be a power house and one of the best in the business.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Like any other new business owner: capital , customers , clients ,but as time goes by you, as an individual, grow and so does the company, because without a challenge what is the point.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
As times comes I'm sure I will change things around for the best.

What was your childhood ambition?
LOL I always said one day I will buy the block were I live.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Oscar De La Renta: He has a vision for clothes and is a Latino like myself: He has overcome some rough time not only in his personal life but also in the business side .

Sun Tzu: He was a General but a very wise man.

Bill Gates of what a small idea may become the leading company in the world

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Reyes Clothing is open for business 24 hr a day 7 days a week

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I have sacrificed my personal and family life to become an entrepreneur

What is your favorite quote?
Why wait for tomorrow

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
This is who I am.

Biggest mistake made?
None

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes I do. I give fashion a new look, a new style and some real crazy ideas. Reyes Clothing Co. Inc. is a new upcoming company full with energy, drive, and determination, a company for the people by the people, always using some of the best materials in the business and very unique designs sure to be liked by you all. See website www.reyesclethinginc.com

Natasha Khost > www.ananatai.com

Natasha Khost Co-Founder Ananatai Collections, Inc

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
We come from humble backgrounds, so to be an entrepreneur we had to start with a dream. You need ambition and motivation to go where you never thought you would go. You need drive and determination to make that dream a true part of your reality.

What did inspire you to start your business?
We knew we wanted to do something great with jewelry. We knew we could introduce not only our own unique designs and creations, but also that of our own countries. We saw it as a great opportunity to take our ideas and really take it to the next level; to showcase our jewelry and to become profitable by doing so.That's why we eventually decided to create Ananatai Collections, Inc.

How did you finance it?
We are a small business. We financed it with our own money and in the very beginning, with a loan.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Yes it does! We feel we have a little edge and advantage being Hispanic and that we have the opportunity to introduce and showcase what it means to be Latina through the colors and designs of our jewelry.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
We have been disillusioned many times in establishing our business. Things didn't happen fast enough or we were cheated and taken advantage of because we were so new to the business. We kept going because we had faith in our dream. We did not want all of our efforts to be in vain and we thought if THEY could do it, why can't we?

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Our biggest challenge has been getting people to know that Ananatai exists. That we've "arrived". We launched our website earlier this year but we have been working on Ananatai for a few years now. Ananatai is ready to be known!

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
We are sure that as we grow, things will have to be modified and re-invented in order to be more efficient. However, right now we would not change anything.

What was your childhood ambition?
To be successful and happy.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
1. Oscar De La Renta - At only 18yrs old, he left the Dominican Republic and went off to study art and design in Spain and has since made his name renowned in the fashion industry. He truly knows his trade. His fashion designs embody what it really means to be a confident woman. and most importantly, he hasn't forgotten where he came from.

2. Bill Gates - True example of how a small business and an idea can grow to exorbitant proportions with hard work and dedication.

3. Oprah Winfrey- great personality and amazing businesswoman. She overcame a troubled childhood and is now one of the richest women in the world!

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Lunch! The day is still young and you're mind is active and ready to work!

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
The biggest sacrifice is time. The journey you go through to get the business off the ground and to help it grow requires a lot of your time and energy. If there is no dedication, there is no business and ultimately no success.

What is your favorite quote?
"...we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope." (verse from the bible)

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Sometimes it is challenging. However we have lots of creativity and ideas that it is expressed though our jewelry. Jewelry is just our medium.

Biggest mistake made?
Probably not doing this sooner.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Absolutely. We strive to provide our customers with pieces they can seldom find anywhere else...we are innovators in that way.

Ananatai is an online jewelry retailer which was started by three college friends: Ana, Natasha and Taisha, Ananatai prides itself in providing a very innovative and good quality product at a lower price than most of our competitors.
http://www.ananatai.com/

Molly Robbins > www.licenzing.com

Molly Robbins, CEO www.licenzing.com

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
To face your fear and “go for it”; be prepared and get as much knowledge about the business you are going into; surround yourself with people you can rely on for support and sound advise.

What did inspire you to start your business?
I feel we are defined by the experiences and actions of our lifetime. After 15 years I felt I had the experience and network to start a branding agency on my own.

How did you finance it?
I had an angel investor.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Yes of course. I launched my apparel brands Chucho™ and Palomita™ because of my being Hispanic. Additionally with the support of our community I am now dedicated to giving back through the Palomita™ education fund. A foundation I established to provide scholarships for Latinos in high school who want to further their education.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
As an entrepreneur I am always looking for opportunity while accepting/facing the associated risk

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Receiving payment in a timely fashion.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
We would like more clients.

What was your childhood ambition?
To become a corporate attorney.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Maria Sobrino/Lulu desserts: she has been in business now for over 20 years. She started her “gelatina” company from her desire to make something that was nostalgic from her home Mexico. She is a very well respected business woman and one of the classiest ladies i have had the pleasure to meet.

Alex Lopez Negrete/ Lopez Negrete Communications : a childhood friend that started his Hispanic marketing agency in 1985 and is now one of the country’s most influential marketing consulting firms.

Steve Jobs/ Apple: he is amazing!

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Any time, any where, I am there and on time!

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
It is very stressful to start your own business venture: I have sacrificed much needed sleep and “down time” with family and friends.

What is your favorite quote?
“Every brand has at its core a substance that gives it strength. You have to understand it before you can grow it.” Scott bedbury

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
If I were any different people wouldn’t recognize me.

Biggest mistake made?
Not starting my company a few years earlier.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I do. I am creative and i have introduced change within my business scope.

Licenzing llc, my brand building agency, is unique in that we offer not only the traditional pr and marketing services of an ad agency, but also brand licensing support.
The palomita™ and chucho™ hispanic fashion brands i developed and launched are using creative elements of our hispanic culture’s “branded” nostalgia.
I established the palomita™ education fund to support and encourage future generations of latinos to become innovators!!

About the Company
Headquartered in suburban San Francisco, LicenZing LLC, has quickly and quietly become THE boutique shop for lifestyle brand building through PR, marketing and licensing. LicenZing works with a select range of clients in areas such as fashion, fitness, innovative design and technology in consumer goods. The company provides a range of brand building services from strategic planning, creative services, media buying, merchandising and licensing.

Most recently its founder launched two apparel lines into the market: Palomita™ and Chucho™. “Esta marca es para ti” This brand is for you, is the tagline for these brands, focusing on Latino male and female consumers. Robbins has secured exclusive rights to use trademarks and vintage art from an array of Latino companies. The Chucho™ and Palomita™ brands incorporate these colorful graphics providing a platform for individual style. Robbins has also established an education foundation the Palomita Education Fund to empower Latinos by supporting their educational advancement. The Foundation receives funds through the sale of the branded Palomita™ and Chucho™ tops as well as through its annual Piensa Mas Alla charity event.

Zameer Upadhya > www.babyspot.com

Zameer Upadhya, CEO & Co-Founder, BabySpot, Inc.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
An entrepreneur needs “Ganas”. He or she needs that deep, down fire and passion to pursue their dreams with full vigor.

What did inspire you to start your business?
A very good friend of mine, James Rivera, had his first son, Danny, two and a half years ago. He kept sending me picture after picture of his son for over two months. Danny, is adorable, but one day I was joking around with James and told him that with the 5,000 pictures he had sent me of his son, he could buy a website, call it http://www.babyspot.com/, and put his son on it. The next day James called me and told me he bought the domain name. Turns out that James and his wife, Monica, did not feel comfortable putting their son's picture on MySpace or Facebook as they did not consider these sites to be safe and secure. We created a site for Danny and the next thing we knew we received many requests from other parents who shared similar concerns. Thus, James and I, started a social networking site for new parents and it’s been a dream ride ever since

How did you finance it?
Thus far our company has been financed internally. We received an initial infusion of seed money from James' parents and everything else has been on us. We took a major risk, but because we believed in what we were doing, it was well worth it.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
My background is very diverse. Sharing heritage from Spain, Cuba, India, Kenya, Tanzania, and Saudi Arabia I value many culture and moral values. Each of these cultures places a strong emphasis on family. Family is the most important thing in this world to me. With it you are everything, without it you are nothing. In business, we operate as a family. My business partner, our members, and our advertisers are all treated as family. Placing them in this regard pushes us to give them all the best service - the type of service we would give our own family. This is a Hispanic value and one that helps separate us from the rest.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of the death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Life is a journey - it has many peaks and many valleys. The road is guaranteed to be bumpy. I think that every successful entrepreneur has to have faith in something, whether it’s God, the universe, or whatever - they must have faith that things work out as they should. This faith when combined with passion is what drives me to keep climbing the mountain. Remember the old saying: “If the mountain was smooth, you could never climb it.”

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Our biggest challenge has been establishing our brand with limited resources. Since we are self-funded we have not been able to engage all of the PR and Marketing efforts that we would like to. We take this as a challenge and push ourselves to think of innovative ways to reach the market.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Truthfully I wouldn't change one thing. The journey has been tough, challenging, fun, rewarding, and a blessing. I can't see myself doing anything else.

What was your childhood ambition?
To play baseball for the Chicago Cubs or to own the team.
Mi ambición de niño era jugar pelota para los Chicago Cubs o ser dueño de este equipo de pelota.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Richard Branson - One of the most innovative entrepreneurs ever. His willingness to think beyond the box and do things that most people would not is encouraging for all entrepreneurs.

Steve Jobs - Possibly one of the greatest marketing entrepreneurs of our time. He has built a loyal brand that always reinvents itself. Amazing

Ahmed Mohamedali - My grandfather passed away in 2003. His whole life was spent on the entrepreneurial journey. He had many ups and downs, but at his funeral was remembered by hundreds for his kindness and willingness to go the extra mile for all.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
None. I prefer to save meals for personal time - breakfast, lunch, and dinner for personal time.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Whenever you pursue a dream you do have to make many sacrifices. I have lived on planes and out of suitcases for the last few years and taken on debt to reach a goal of imminent success. It’s been tough to balance a social life with a personal drive for success. Initially I probably sacrificed too much, but over time learned to balance it all as best as possible.

What is your favorite quote?
"Within every difficulty lies opportunity." - Albert Einstein

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
No. It is only difficult if you don't have faith in your beliefs and convictions. I heard once if you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything. Going against the norm is only difficult if you don't believe deep within your heart that what you are striving for, what you are trying to accomplish, is worth it. If it is, then being unconventional is as normal as breathing.

Biggest mistake made?
By no means am I perfect, however, I don't regret any decisions that I have made. Mistakes are but opportunities to learn and grow. Every step that I have taken has brought me closer to my next goal. I have stumbled, fallen, and gotten back up through every mistake that I have encountered.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes. I think every successful entrepreneur is an innovator. They have to be in order to succeed. Often they have to come up with innovative solutions when there is no clear answer.

About the Company

www.BabySpot.com and http://www.babyspotlatino.com/ are free, safe, and secure social networking and informational sites for new parents to share pictures, videos, and parenting tips in a community specific to their needs. They were established in 2006 in response to James and Monica Rivera's desire to share their son, Danny's, pictures with family members online in a safe and secure manner.

Ray Hernandez > www.MyBabyOurBaby.com

Ray Hernandez, Founder and CEO

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
You need to be able to finish things on your own. There will always be people saying they're willing to help, but if you can't make things happen on your own. It's going to be hard to get your business rolling.

What did inspire you to start your business?
All of my friends were starting to have children. Since I was the "web designer guy" I kept getting asked to design and build websites for their kids. Instead of doing it one at a time, I decided to build a system where parents everywhere could have a free website for their kids.

How did you finance it?
With all the change I found in my couch. Which wasn't much.

Being Hispanic?Does it have any influence on your business?

Yes it does. Hispanics tend to be very family oriented, and my business is all about bringing family and friends together.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
My family is always my inspiration. I want to make a better life for them, so I always push forward.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Finding resources to grow. It takes a lot of time, money, and code to keep a site like this alive and growing.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
I would have looked at venture financing, from the beginning. When you're financed you can focus on the goal.

What was your childhood ambition?
I was going to either be a major league baseball player or a famous artist in New York City.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Mark Cuban - He's living the dream. He built a site that he knew could work. A major company saw the potential, bought the company. And now he has a wiffle ball field in his living room, as well as be the owner of the Dallas Mavericks. What could be better?

Kevin Rose - Founder of Digg - He has created a career on ideas. He sees what's going on on the net, and what needs to be fixed. From there he turns his ideas into web applications that we all use today.

Matt Mullenweg - Founding Developer of Wordpress - Open source guru. He's built one of the largest blogging platforms, that my business uses as it's backbone. Thanks Matt.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Dinner for me. I know meetings with me turn into brainstorming, so they tend to go long. I'm a night owl.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Financing my own company, meant not spending any time with my friends and family. I had to put my head down and just focus on my goal, which was launching www.MyBabyOurBaby.com

What is your favorite quote?
"There's no time like the present"

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
I've always been unconventional. I've started little companies since I was a little kid. I always knew I'd only be happy if I was working for myself.

Biggest mistake made?
Not sure, but there is plenty of time to compile a list of my mistakes. You gotta make mistakes to figure out what needs to be done better.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I would. I'm always trying to figure out how to fix the problem. There always has to be a way to fix things. All you have to do is make something to fix it.

About the Company

My Baby Our Baby
Plenty of other sites allow parents to create online scrapbooks and keepsake photo albums, but no other site makes it easier for busy parents to collect and organize memories from invited family members and friends.

In today's world, almost everyone has images gathering dust on their hard drives. Instead of devoting hours to tracking all these images and memories down on your own, let us help you with the legwork. You'll end up with tons of memories you didn't even know you had and a whole lot more time for creating new ones.

Contact the Company here:http://www.mybabyourbaby.com

Anthony Aldaño > www.theamarugroup.com

Anthony Aldaño Co-Founder The Amaru Group

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
You need to have a burning desire and passion to do whatever it is that is in your heart.

What inspired you to start your business?
My first company (LatinosStep.com) evolved organically as I was coordinating College Step Shows as a hobby. During my second New York City show I looked out over the amphitheatre at the 1,000 attendees and realized I had stumbled upon something. After working for myself for so long and having an entrepreneurial spirit I want to continue creating unique media properties under my own direction. The Amaru Group is an extension of what I have been doing since 1999, creating media & event properties that reach the New Generation Latino market.

How did you finance it?
LatinosStep.com was financed on credit cards and my Partner Jesus Diaz's dad (for our Miami show.) We produced national college Step Shows for the Latino college market, we usually broke-even with ticket sales. Within three years of launching LatinosStep we were acquired by LatCom Communications, in an equity buy-out. In 2006, LatCom was acquired by Batanga.com a Latino music portal. My latest company The Amaru Group is being financed with our own working capital.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Being Latino has everything to do with my business. All my relative business success is due to my cultura. All my business models have revolved around the Latino culture and demographic, how to reach them, understand them, market to them and create event properties that cater for them. All of this is relatively easy to do when you are marketing to yourself.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
It's important to surround yourself with a solid, smart and hardworking team of people you can trust. Although this isn't easy to find it is always the goal. With these things in place you are better equipped to handle any adversity that comes your way. Knowing that provides the drive to keep going and follow your heart.

What was your childhood ambition?
My childhood ambition was to be a chemist. Then in High School I realized how numbers & formula driven it is, I crossed chemistry off my list.

Tell us about an entrepreneur that you admire?
There are so many I admire Robert Johnson (BET) created the first African-American cable network when no one believed it would succeed, Russel Simmons (Def Jam) pioneered the billion dollar hip-hop industry through managing one of the first commercially successful Rap groups RUN-D-MC and starting a clothing line.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
None of the above, I prefer to get straight to business rather than clutter a meeting with a noisy restaurant or little table space.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
The money isn't always immediately there as an entrepreneur, but if you're good at what you do then there are some potential big payouts along the way.

What is your favorite quote?
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great". - Mark Twain

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I consider myself someone who has followed their heart and has made sound business decisions.

About The Amaru Group:
The Amaru Group has over 30 years of combined experience in launching and managing, media and event properties catered to the Latino College markets. We have developed an expertise in creating unique solutions for thisdemographic.

Find out more about us by visiting www.TheAmaruGroup.com

George Burciaga > www.smarTECHS.net

George Burciaga Chief Executive Officer of smarTECHS.net

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
You need a great idea as well as the focus and passion to turn that idea into reality. You have to be ready to risk everything to win it all.

What did inspire you to start your business?
Necessity. I was raised in an environment where I needed to succeed in order to survive.

How did you finance it?
I financed my business through hard work or what I like to call “sweat equity.” I worked many nights with little to no sleep. I have worked for every penny that I have ever made.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Yes, I grew up in a culture where working hard with a strong commitment to family and community was very important. It’s where I get my work ethic.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Adversity is part of my everyday business routine. I have no choice but to overcome adversity. I have a lot people who depend on me: my family, my staff, my clients and my community. I have made a commitment to them that I will succeed and that my support will help them succeed too.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
After Y2K came and went, so did my business. In order to survive in the marketplace, I had to completely change my company’s business model. I had to reinvent and re-brand my business, converting it into a full service IT firm in order to continue to grow.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
I would have started my business sooner. As they say, hindsight is always 20/20, so I wish I possessed the business acumen I have today. I wish I could tell that 22-year-old kid all the things I know now.

What was your childhood ambition?
I wanted to have the power to change the way people live for the better.

Tell us about an entrepreneur that you admire?
Oprah. She’s built an incredible brand and has actually changed the way people think. It’s amazing the way great entrepreneurs can actually change the way people behave.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Lunch.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I had to completely remove myself from the equation in order to succeed. I had to sacrifice a lot and give up some my personal desires like getting sleep and buying things that I wanted. I had to work harder and work smarter than everyone else.

What is your favorite quote?
If you don’t know where you are going, how will you know when you will get there?

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
No. I have always been outside of box. I have never been inside it. In fact, I don’t even know what the inside of the box looks like.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes. I think to be an innovator you have to be the first one to do something new, without worrying about success or failure. True innovation takes a willingness to risk it all. I have never been afraid to risk everything in order to win big. If I know what I want to do and it makes sense to me, I believe I will succeed and I take that risk. I have always liked to do things that other people won’t do.

About smarTECHS.net
smarTECHS.net is a Chicago-based IT firm that provides full-service, innovative technology solutions for national and local clients in both the private and public sectors. By building strategic partnerships with global corporations such as Microsoft and Dell, smarTECHS.net offers tailored IT solutions that specifically align with the mission and goals of each client. Recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in the country, smarTECHS.net is a privately held company with a strong commitment to community service and development. For more information, please visit www.smartechs.net.

Annette E. Alvarez > www.tostobueno.com

Annette E Alvarez Owner of Tostobueno LLC and Multi-Ethnic Talent & Promotion, Inc.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
My first reaction was to write about the need for vision and a 100% devotion to that vision but found that that answer was too simplistic, so I hit delete. I asked my friends for their thoughts. They also talked about vision. So I guess vision wins in everyday conversation, but truth be told I don’t think that’s the magic entrepreneurial ingredient. Lots of people with vision are still punching a clock. What am I missing? I turned to Webster. The dictionary. Entrepreneurs “assume the risk of a business.” Hmmmmm . . . we are risk takers. Got it! Fearlessness! To be an entrepreneur you can’t be afraid. That sounds about right!

What did inspire you to start your business?
Need.

How did you finance it?
I own two businesses, with two sets of partners.

A) Multi-Ethnic Talent & Promotion, Inc. manages ethnic actors. As a home business, we were able to keep costs down. Not long after we started in 1992, our first client was hired by MTV as the face of their newly launched MTV Asia network. I remember our first commercial—AT&T; it paid very well. That same actor went on to be one of the first faces of Viagra. Very funny. The Sopranos was good to us. As well as all The Law & Orders. Our actors are now all in Los Angeles, and one just booked a pilot. Let’s hope it gets picked up.

Still, I needed to work for the first five years of our business and I did, as an overnight news editor at WNBC. So if you count, it was 18 hours days.

B) Tostobueno®, LLC designs and distributes high-end, ethnic kitchenware. Our signature product is an eco-friendly, bamboo tostonera. It takes a village to raise a child. In this day and age, it also takes one to get a business going. We
have a wonderful village of family and friends who have surrounded themselves around us, giving of their time and money. So to answer the question we self-financed except for $20,000.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
The immigrant work ethic. Yes, I work 7 days a week and I am on the computer dealing with both coasts until, basically, my head can’t take it anymore. (Read below) But – here is the big BUT, what I do is because my parents gave me the best education that money could buy. I went all the way to the University of Miami School of Law. There I met my Multi-Ethnic partner, Joan C. Silverman. I studied Broadcasting at Miami-Dade Community College, North Campus. Burt Delgado, the BEST TV professor EVER. He is still there. I worked at WNBC; that is were I met my Tostobueno® partner, Don Williams, the station’s reporter/anchor. My parents were factory workers. What I do is fun. Now, let’s not confuse fun with easy. At Multi-Ethnic my job is to convince people “in power positions” that my actors should be given the opportunity to auditioned for a role that in their minds they see a caucasian actor playing. With Tostobueno® my job is to convince people “in power positions” that America is ready for high-end, ethnic kitchenware, specifically our signature product an eco-friendly dual tostones and rellenos tostonera. My parents worked the same amount of time. SEWING! Their fun, the radio-novelas and the dream of one day having their on place.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
You just “do” with great faith that it will all work out. And it usually does.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Business Challenge:For Multi-Ethnic: keeping afloat after 9/11. For Tostobueno®: educating businesses that Hispanics as well as non-Hispanics will spend money for quality and up-scale ethnic cookware.
Personal Challenge:In 2000, I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. I must tell you, it hasn’t been a fun ride, but with the help of family and friends we were all able to keep it going.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Change happens, with or without me.

What was your childhood ambition?
To be a teacher.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
When I was younger I read all the business books, etc. However, at the end of my day it's my parents who I admire most - they were my Wharton. And from what I just found out, my mother as a kid loved to work at her dad's "bodega" in Cuba. My father -- when he wasn't at the factory, he was selling jewelry or electronics. I'm a first generation Cuban-American. My parents came to this country in the early 50s, and shortly after I was born in '58, the goal was set: to move from Brooklyn to Miami and open a factory. And they did. Basically, they taught me the value of effort and hardwork.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Honestly, I prefer meetings where there is no food. Coffee, si! Meetings for me are all about going in and getting out. Now, for networking I prefer lunch. And when we want them to try, my partner's Don--aka Chef DonClark-- tostones rellenos-with sweet and savory toppings-- and plantain muffins and well, the best Café Espresso EVER . . . it's home for dinner. Don was awarded a design patent on June 27th 2006 after spending three years perfecting the Tostobueno ® design.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I don’t know, really. I've modeled my life to accommodate my love of business.

What is your favorite quote?
Luck is the residue of design.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
I find this to be the question that most resonated in me. I’ve always, always been unconventional, and I guess I still am and probably always will be. I didn’t realize it, until, well, I read this question that being unconventional is a good business trait. I remember being yelled at by my 5th grade teacher for having done something the complete opposite of everyone else in the class. That’s when I realized I was a bit . . . different. And 40 some odd years later, nothing’s changed. The upside—I’m not phased by much and can continue any pursuit without fear. Wow. . . Who would have thought?

Biggest mistake made?
Not buying a Blackberry sooner.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I can’t answer this question without bringing in ALL my partners. And even then it is not to say we are innovadors but visionaries. Both Multi-Ethnic and Tostobueno® are chipping away at an archaic business model. . . one that doesn’t include the financial power of ethnic America, with Hispanics representing $1 trillion in spending power by 2010, according to Jose Cancela, founder of the marketing and research firm Hispanic USA Inc.

Joan and I started Multi-Ethnic in 1992. It wasn’t until seven years later that what we knew was actually said out loud by the likes of Ricky Martin and then NAACP President Kweisi Mfume. Yes, a very unlikely duo. Ricky’s groundbreaking “Cup of Life” Grammy performance showed EVERYONE that Hispanics were here and, well, HOT and not going anywhere. Mr. Mfume also in 1999 took TV execs to task for what he called the whitewash of TV.

Don, Ainsley C. Williams and I started Tostobueno® a few years ago. . . well, let me leave you with this. Just look at the Food Network. Does it reflect even a little bit the Hispanic population of this country?

Visionaries. Yup . . . that’s what we are.

About the Companies

Multi-Ethnic Talent & Promotion, Inc. manages ethnic actors.

Tostobueno®, LLC designs and distributes high-end ethnic kitchenware. Our signature product is Tostobueno, The Ultimate Tostonera® an eco-friendly, bamboo tostonera that can make up to six toston chips "tostones" or toston cups "tostones rellenos" with one smash.

Contact Annette at http://www.tostobueno.com/

Daniela Rodriguez > www.riverplatefulfillment.com

Daniela Rodriguez, Owner, River Plate Fulfillment

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Believe in your self,always a positive attitude,discipline, honesty.

What did inspire you to start your business?
My business started by accident, from a necessity when my husband had a very bad car accident and I had to put food on the table for my kids.

How did you finance it?
I finance it with quarters and dimes that were saved in my piggy bank.

Being Hispanic? Does it have any influence on your business?
It's great to be Hispanic, you have the best of both worlds, many times we run in to people in warehouses that do not speak much English, is great to be able to speak the Spanish language in order to do business, also our employees that the majorities are Spanish is the strongest access to the company.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I always see the glass half full, never half empty, and in life nothing comes easy if you want to be successful, I believe you never have to step back, always forward, and that other than death, there is always a solution for everything if is with in you. Like my good right hand and friendSandra my employee said, it is what it is, and we take a day at a time. I focus on the positive never the negative.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
The fire on October 21, 2007 I saw my 15 yrs of hard work burned down to ashes. All of my dreams had fallen apart, all of my employees without a job. My biggest challenge was how was I am going to get all that back, and was like the whole world colapse on me on that day.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Nothing, I would not change a thing, if anything I would add more services that would enhance it according to my customers needs.

What was your childhood ambition?
To be a pilot

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Donald Trump, Fernando Lamp, and Mitzie

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Lunch

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I had to sacrifice family time, I had to cut on all my personal expenses, meaning not taking a vacation for 10 years, no eating out, sleeping time. I was lucky if I got to sleep 5 hours a day. Not seeing much of my friends. I became a workaholic.

What is your favorite quote?
If there is a will, there is a way. In Spanish (Querer es poder)

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
No it's not

Biggest mistake made?
The biggest mistake I ever made was not having enough insurance. We can never be insured enough, and for that you have to do your homework. Know the value of the merchandise the company is keeping in inventory for customers, know the value of your own machinery, and even when our insurance agent, is letting us know what covers and you seamed to be happy with it, please read it yourself and ask questions. It's too late after the facts. Ask for a second opinion if you are not sure of the policy you have in your hands.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
No, I don't consider myself an innovator, I consider myself a person with a very strong inner strength.

Riverplateinc.com does fulfillment for all types of industries, trucking nation wide, warehousing and distribution.

Dr. Alejandro Badia > www.drbadia.com

Dr. Alejandro Badia, Entrepreneurial Surgeon, Surgeon of the Hand and Upper Extremity Badia Hand to Shoulder Center Chief of Hand Surgery, Baptist Hospital of Miami Co-founder, Da Vinci Learning Center

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Vision. One must know clearly what the goals are and accept that some significant level of risk is involved in order to achieve them. In the medical field, service is a key component and you must fulfill the three A’s criteria: Be affable, admirable, and accessible.

What did inspire you to start your business?
I had co-founded an extremely successful surgical practice…so successful, that we soon found that we needed more surgeons in order to cover our community needs for our subspecialty to better serve our patients. The problem was that the busier we got, the less time I was able to spend with my patients and the more difficult it was to ensure that each person received the special attention they deserved, particularly the patients who traveled from abroad to see me for a particular hand and upper limb problem. I soon realized that I needed to downsize my practice but improve the service and infrastructure to deliver that care. Badia Hand to Shoulder Center is designed with this at the forefront.

How did you finance it?
I purchased the real estate shell with my local bank, who knew my practice and income potential, and then I financed the build out of the office and therapy center myself. I wanted to minimize my debt burden. I then partnered with a national ambulatory surgery center company who understood the construction and startup needs for a surgical facility better than I could on my own. This created efficiency and an expeditious process.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Being Hispanic played a major role on WHERE I decided to practice and the type of patient pool I could best serve. While I was solely educated in the US, and obtained an Ivy League degree, I was sure to maintain my Latino roots and cultivate these idiosyncrasies. This allowed me to better bond with patients whose primary language is Spanish, whom often travel to see me from Latin America. Practicing in Miami allowed me to provide US level medical care, with the technology and expertise that entails, while making my international patients feel they were still immersed in their home culture.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Adversity is a matter of perception. One must know and accept that not everything can go exactly according to plan. It is like performing surgery: the best surgeons know how to work around a sudden alteration in the pathology or anatomy. Managing complications is part of the “art of medicine”.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Developing a new surgical practice and center requires depending on many different people, particularly bureaucrats and construction subcontracting firms. Keeping everything on track and focused has been a huge challenge.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
As a physician caught up in a complex medical system, I wish that I could deal only with the patient, much like any other business, where there is simply the customer and the provider. I particularly enjoy serving international patients because I do not have to request “authorization” from an insurance company low level employee who usually knows little about the pathology in question; let alone the best treatment options. It is pure medicine.

What was your childhood ambition?
I always wanted to be a physician. Furthermore I was quite convinced that I would become a surgeon and often performed dissections on fish or frogs in front of my 6th grade class, much to the delight of my teacher who shared my enthusiasm for biology. At eight years of age, I accompanied my grandmother to see a famous hand surgeon at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in NYC due to her crippling rheumatoid arthritis. That moment stayed with me… In fact, that surgeon trained the surgeon who would later train me in Pittsburgh, decades later.

In middle school, I read the book “The Making of a Surgeon” and later reread it noting that the author was a product of Cornell too…

Lastly, there is a great tradition of physicians in my family in Cuba and I only recently discovered that I was a descendant of the founder of the Cuban Academy of Sciences.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Craig Venter – founder of Celera Genomics. He took his scientific skills to create a company that would beat the NIH in sequencing the human genome. He illustrates the power of free enterprise over government: even in science.

Bill Gates (of course) – His story is epic, but most importantly, he has taken this money and wisely invested it in solving some of mankind’s issues. While widely criticized for his lack of early giving, he proved that one must also be strategic and patient in making philanthropic decisions.

Mohammed Yunus – The innovator of micro-credit. His type of entrepreneurship has positively affected the lives of millions of people and indirectly helped them lift themselves out of poverty. It is fortunate that this was aptly recognized via a Nobel peace prize.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Dinner only. Late. I work too early for normal breakfasts, and surgeons rarely eat a real lunch!

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
The “sacrifices” are huge, but then again, I do not really consider them sacrifices. I love what I do, but it certainly can intrude on my personal life in many ways. I married late in life and just started building a family. Regardless, I would not have done it any other way…

What is your favorite quote?
A NY surgery professor once told me, “Surgeons don’t work hard; they work a lot. Ditch diggers work hard!”

I often try to think of that when in the operating room, frustrated, in the wee hours of the morning….

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
“Conventional” is a matter of semantics. The truth is that conventional implies one does the same as the vast majority. Since success implies that one differentiates themselves in a positive way from the status quo, you MUST be unconventional to reach new heights. This does not mean mistakes are not made.

Biggest mistake made?
I had an opportunity to join a swim team at an early age, apparently due to some innate talent that was recognized. I did not pursue it and picked up the sport at a much later date when it was likely too late to reach my potential. I often wonder what athletic heights I might have achieved. Watching Pablo Morales, a fellow Cuban-American and Cornelian, win gold medals in the butterfly, also my stroke, rekindled that feeling. My passion for these individual sports led me to personally attend the last 4 Olympic games as an enthusiastic spectator!

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why
I believe I am an innovator as I have managed to combine the pursuit of scientific and clinical excellence, with a desire to educate the public on common maladies in my little known surgical specialty. These goals require two different mindsets. My future goal is for the general public to understand ubiquitous clinical problems within the hand and upper limb, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or shoulder bursitis (impingement syndrome). Educating the public, while furthering our scientific understanding of these issues involves two varied, but equally important, skill sets.

Contact Dr. Alejandro Badia at www.drbadia.com

Mayra Castillo and Xochitl Gonzalez > www.alwaysabridesmaid.us

Mayra Castillo and Xochitl Gonzalez Founders Always A Bridesmaid

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
First, we believe you have to have a strong vision of what you want and secondly, a desire to really do what you want, without fear of failure or too much concern with immediate sacrifice. It's the road less traveled for a reason!

What did inspire you to start your business?
Truthfully, a bad boss! We had jobs that we loved, in function, planning corporate events. But the office climate took the joy out of work. We wanted to create a company where there was room to enjoy the kind of work we do- which is basically to create celebrations for people.

How did you finance it?
Poorly! In the beginning, it was financed with our last commission checks from our day job! It wasn't much. We used credit financing for the first year until we could qualify for bank loans and just tried to be really strategic with our dollars. We spent a ton of time and energy pursuing publicity for the business.

Being Hispanic ...Does it have any influence on your business?
We have an impossibly strong work ethic, which for us, feels cultural.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
We don't want "real" jobs.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Always financing. Like a lot women-owned businesses, we face problems with financing particularly during stages of growth.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
I think we both wish it wasn't so tied to us, personally. We'd like to create more distance between our personalities and the service we offer.

What was your childhood ambition?
Mayra: I wanted to be an agricultural engineer.

Xochitl: I wanted to be a talk show host.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Andrea MacDonald. She owns an outdoor media company called MacDonald Media and was a client of ours. She taught us so much about enjoying life and work.
Two more famous names would be Martha Stewart and Coco Chanel.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Dinner meetings. We need to be able to have people relaxed with us.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Everything. We really spent time away from family, friends and money while we invested our love and time in this business.

What is your favorite quote?
"In order to be Irreplaceable, one must always be different"- Coco Chanel

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
No, that isn't difficult. Either you are or you aren't. I think it's in your nature.

Biggest mistake made?
Undervaluing our services and promising perfection. We now sell expertise and problem solving skills, not fantasy.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes. We've never believed that the success of the wedding is about just the day. It's about the process. We've designed all of our services to enhance the enjoyment of getting married, not just the few hours that the reception is going on.

Always A Bridesmaid was founded in 2003 by Xochitl Gonzalez and Mayra Castillo after these two former corporate event planners were tapped endlessly by friends and friends of friends for event tips and wedding planning help. They have since become one of the city's most sought after planners, and the "Go-To" company for couples planning events in unique or untraditional venues such as lofts, tents, or historic venues.

Contact Mayra and Xochitl at www.alwaysabridesmaid.us

Ana L. Nogales Ph.D. > www.drnogales.com

Ana L. Nogales Ph.D Founder of Nogales Psychological Counseling, Inc and www.casadelafamilia.org

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
You need alot of perseverance and love of life. When everything seems to be impossible, you have to look for the open door and find the formula so that you can overcome and pursue your goal.

What did inspire you to start your business?
My father: He would always say the the intelligent persons were the ones who used their heads, and you could accomplish so much more when you labored less and thought more.

How did you finance it?
No one financed my dream/ambition, I worked hard and grew my practice a little at a time.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
I don't think I would have been able to grow and love my job if it wasn't for the fact that I am Latina and have always worked with the Latino community.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
After, my stomach goes into knots, I use that same energy to think how am I going to keep looking ahead. It has cost me many sleepless nights, but I try and get to sleep, as I know that I think better when I am well rested. Many times I try to leave the City and to find an escape and get close to nature. Upon my return I see things differently and I can focus on my own thoughts more clearly. To have a great support staff is fundamental, because I know who I can count on, who is loyal , and who thinks with me. I ask for opinions from those that I trust, but I take my time to evaluate and consider them to decipher what is the best one to take to fruition.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Those that are envious, as they can be very destructive, but sometimes they present themselves with a smiling face.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
I have many things to change. Looking back, I wish I would have had personal financial planner to guide me on how to make investments.

What was your childhood ambition?
I wanted to help people, and this is what I do within my possibilities.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
I admire my brother, who knows how to do things at the right moment, he calculates conservatively, but efficiently.

My daughter and her husband, although young, have programmed their lives in a financially responsible manner.

I also admire Nora de los Hoyos Comstock, who is the founder of Las Comadres de las Americas, whose vision was to connect Latinas via the Internet. Her vision has connected over 12,000 Latinas from all over the United States.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
For me breakfast is the best time, that's when I have the best energy. Breakfast is the begining of the day and so people will think throughout the day. Dinner is a more intimate scene, and sometimes by the end of the day your so exhausted, you might not be receptive to any proposal.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
The most difficult thing for me was trying to maintain a balance between my work and my dedication to my family. It was a personal sacrifice, trying to to keep tabs on every detail, but I always kept my priorities in check. I have never received any complaints my family, on the contrary, only praise for my efforts.

What is your favorite quote?
I want to live a full life every single day, so if it were to be my last, I would leave having the satisfaction that I accomplished everything that I had to do in this life.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
It is very difficult to be non conventional. My Mother always told me that I was rebellious, although looking back, I really wasn't. It cost me constant criticism for trying to be me and living my life the way I wanted to. Now, more mature, it was not difficult to find others who were unconventional and share thoughts. Today, I still look for others who think out of the box and although a minority, it's always such a pleasure to find them. Of course, I get along with conventional people as well, as I have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

Biggest mistake made?
My most serious mistake: using credit cards..........and I'm still making this mistake...........

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I get enthusiastic and excited with things that I have never done before and I do it with so much passion, that I surprize myself. For example, I never thought I could write books on contemporary topics, and even less to to write a play, as I did recently....................and I continue to write both!

Dr. Nogales immigrated to the United States in 1979 and completed her doctorate degree in psychology at the United States International University, San Diego. She opened her private practice in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, supervising clinical programs for thirty professionals in mental health since 1982. She is a clinical psychologist and founder of Nogales Psychological Counseling, Inc. and Clinical Director of the nonprofit organization, Casa de la Familia, established for victims of crime, such as rape, sexual assault, child sexual and physical abuse, domestic violence and human trafficking.

Contact Dr. Nogales at www.drnogales.com and www.CasadelaFamilia.org

Greg Sanchez > www.siestatees.com

Greg Sanchez Owner

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
You need to have an IDEA! You don't need to reinvent the wheel, you can always modify it! You need PASSION, your heart and enthusiasm must be in it. If you don't believe in your idea, no one will. You need to take the RISK, this is the biggest challenge entrepreneurs face. Risk involves money, time, sacrifice and uncertainty.

What did inspire you to start your business?
I have always imagined being a small business owner, but always felt that it was never possible. One day I finally said I got to do this, I had an idea with my Siesta Tees concept, and ran with it. The rest is history!

How did you finance it?
I started Siesta Tees on literally a "shoestring budget". Through the Internet I was able to find affordable services to get my business off the ground. I design all the marketing materials to help keep the budget low.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Siesta Tees is a Hispanic/Latino themed brand. Our tees express the thoughts and beliefs Hispanics grew up with. So, yes being Hispanic is very influential, it gives our product authenticity.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
There are ups and downs of being a small business owner. When times are bad, you need to keep your head up and your heart in it. Keep that passion in it, those good days are right around the corner!

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Marketing and advertising has been the biggest challenge. Since, we have a "shoestring budget" we are constantly looking for the most cost effective way to operate the business.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
I wish I would have started sooner, risk held me back!

What was your childhood ambition?
Creating and developing products have always been an interest of mine.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
None in particular. I think there is a lot to admire in people who act on their dreams!

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Lunch. You get for your money on lunch specials. I told you I work with a "shoestring budget"!

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Time away from family! That's the biggest sacrifice I make.

What is your favorite quote?
"The sign on the door of opportunity reads: PUSH"

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Sometimes being unconventional means making a new client!

Biggest mistake made?
Trying to do everything myself. As a owner you feel no one can put the fire and passion like you into your business. You need to be able to handle the tasks that you are good at and out source the others.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes, I'm starting my business and that's something I thought would never come true! Now I can say it's a dream come true!

Greg Sanchez is the proud owner of Siesta Tees,a new Latino themed clothing line. The on-line shop offers a variety of t-shirt styles, infant one piece, children’s t-shirts, mugs, caps, aprons and many more items stamped with their designs. Latino folklore, beliefs and “abuelas wise thoughts” were mixed together to create the unique designs and slogans. The designs were created to fill a void in the main stream Latino market, which has become a major force in the U.S. market.

Siesta Tees started with one funny design and now offers more than fifty designs and phrases such as, Stop the violence- hit a piñata, I love abuela, I think the chupacabra is under my bed and Don’t make me use my chancla, all in a variety of colors and sizes. Their on-line sales shop offers a 30-day return guarantee and a toll free customer service line. “We are in the process of taking our t-shirts from on-line to retail stores in the near future. We believe the demand is there, and that our slogan will stand true, Creating laughs one tee at a time.” explains Greg.

Hilda Orosco > www.greenstuffconnection.com

Hilda Orosco President and Owner

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Courage to continue! There are many times you will be challenged, feel like you cant work any harder, cant take any more bad news, cant deal with any more sleepless nights, don’t know how you will afford it. It takes courage to step out of paralyzing fear and beat your quitting thoughts down!

What did inspire you to start your business?
I have always worked very hard to be the best! I was always looking for the next promotion. Eventually I decide to work hard and promote myself to president of my own company.

How did you finance it?
Personal savings and some business loans.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Being Hispanic influences me to succeed. I believe my culture has many wonderful role models and I’d like to join the Hispanic role model club.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Honestly there were many times when it has been difficult to continue…. My beautiful daughters and wonderful husband are my inspiration. I want to teach my daughters that if you truly want something you can achieve it!

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
The biggest challenge has been balancing motherhood with entrepreneurship.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
I would not like to change anything; I would LOVE to eventually add an actual retail location.

What was your childhood ambition?
I always dreamed of fighting my way out of poverty and a terrible neighborhood. I was determined to become a success at whatever I chose to do.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
I honestly don’t have a list of three entrepreneurs that I admire… I admire anyone who has turned their dream to reality! How many people do we all know that talk, talk, talk and never do! Entrepreneurs make it happen, and that is admirable!

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
I prefer lunch for business meetings. Breakfast is spent with my daughters and dinner is family time.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I had to leave the security of a full time job and guaranteed pay check.

What is your favorite quote?
“What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?” Made by an unknown Author

Hilda Orosco President/Owner

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Not at all… I am a leader and not a follower… In business there is no such thing as unconventional.

Biggest mistake made?
Choosing a low priced web site designer over a higher priced one. I had to completely redo my web site. It cost me much more than if I would have just spent the extra money on a reputable site designer in the first place.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I am definitely an innovator. I have done some research on what I should be doing to make my business a success. But for the most part it’s creativity, going with my instinct and just doing it! Innovation has led me to the place I am now.

To learn more about Hilda, visit http://www.greenstuffconnection.com/

Sara I. Loarte > www.cultivaentertainment.com

Sara I. Loarte Principal at Cultiva Entertainment

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
You need a strong desire to develop an idea and nurture it into existence.

What did inspire you to start your business?
The growth and significance of the Hispanic audience in the U.S.

How did you finance it?
Personal savings and a strategy of entering into consulting relationships that would help capitalize the company’s endeavors.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Absolutely. Being in the Hispanic Sports Marketing world it is essential for my company to be as culturally authentic to my clients as well as the consumers we serve. Therefore my Hispanic traditions and understandings of the culture really influence my company’s strategies.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
You look at the bigger picture, keep positive and stay focused on your goals.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Capitalization. The business opportunities are surmountable but if you do not have the proper resources to support it, your growth is much slower.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Probably to highlight our accomplishments with the media and the industry a lot better.

What was your childhood ambition?
To meet Menudo.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Richard Carrion – Chairman, Banco Popular: He took his father’s dream and accomplishments and developed them into a modern, progressive business.

Diego Suarez, Sr., Chairman, V Suarez : He began a Distribution company from the bottom up and once he reached the top, he mentored all who were willing to listen.

Antonio Munoz Bermudez, Chairman, Munoz Bermudez Holding Co.: He started a development company that quickly grew into an industry leader and he has surrounded his business with family and friends.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Dinner- it gives you more time to set up the deal.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I had to travel extensively at times which took me away from my precious family.

What is your favorite quote?
If you put your trust in God, He will fight your battles for you.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
No, following Hispanic trends and traditions tend to be interpreted as “unconventional” by the general market.

Biggest mistake made?
Relying on an external party to get your message across.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes, I consider myself an innovator because my company has successfully introduced new ways to reach the Hispanic audience in a very targeted way.

Sara I. Loarte is a principal of the Hispanic sports marketing firm, Cultiva Entertainment that specializes in developing multi-media platforms to reach the U.S. Hispanic audience. Cultiva is experienced in the areas of brand introduction, content development, grass roots outreach, live event production, licensing management and media syndication. Among its marquee sports client list is Major League Baseball’s World Baseball Classic tournament. Cultiva’s Hispanic engagement program for the World Baseball Classic resulted in sell-out crowds to all games featuring Latin teams, record-selling licensed merchandise and double the television ratings among Hispanic households on ESPN Network. Loarte currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy & High School and has been instrumental in developing a Hispanic youth center in New York City that promotes the Arts. Born in Puerto Rico, Loarte attended Bernard M. Baruch College and currently resides in New York with her husband Anthony and daughter Aerin.

To learn more about Sara, visit http://www.cultivaentertainment.com

Antonio Argibay > www.meridiandesign.com

Antonio Argibay AIA, Principal, Meridian Design

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
You need the four “D’s” — a dream, the daring, the determination and the dedication. Mastering these four qualities and keeping them in proportion are essential to a successful business.

What did inspire you to start your business?
While in college I met my now business partner Bice Wilson. We were both active in school government and had a deep commitment to the affairs of the world. After having experienced our first paying jobs, we decided that we wanted to run our own firm. That decision was based on a desire to have better control of the design process and, most importantly, to provide a creative and exciting working environment that reflected our goals, both as employers and as architects.

How did you finance it?
We began by working independently as consulting architects for other firms, sub-contracting portions of projects and taking on small projects on our own. We worked in my partner’s loft space, a large, open factory space converted to a residence by his labor. We financed it with sweat and blood, as any new business has to.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
I have firsthand experience with the disadvantages that an immigrant faces in the business world. Many people confuse speaking with an accent with thinking with one. We here at Meridian Design have made it a central point in our business plan to hire the best talent available. We have one criterion: excellence. We have a diverse group of people, and being based in New York has helped us to turn diversity into a competitive advantage worldwide.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
One has to have faith and understand that there always will be adversity. Being an immigrant teaches you that there are always opportunities in America, but you have to be nimble and ready to act when the opportunities emerge. A business person has to understand the position of his enterprise within the overall economy, because there are established business cycles that dictate the ebb and flow of the larger economy. Many times, what seems like a difficult period is really an opportunity, and while adversity tries you, it is a great teacher that provides you with the strength and skills to survive. I remember soon after having survived Meridian Design’s first prolonged dry spell, I sat down to have a drink with a much older friend who said to me “Well, now you can call yourself a business man.”

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
In general, the biggest challenge for any business is controlling growth so that it’s healthy and consistent. You can’t let your ego or your timidity get ahead of you — you have to grow at a controlled and healthy rate. A faster growth can really weaken a business, and when the inevitable reversals of the economy happen, the business will be too weak to survive.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
First of all, I can change anything about Meridian Design, and we frequently do. It is important for a business leader to understand that. We do a lot of business planning and are constantly looking for that competitive edge. We also know change in business occurs in an evolutionary manner. You look for new markets while looking for growth in your existing market.

What was your childhood ambition?
I always wanted to be an architect, but I only learned that with hindsight. I had a talent for drawing, organizing, planning and visualizing. As I matured, I honed into skill sets. Architecture is the place where my skills and my dreams came together.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs whom you admire?
I have always admired “idea” people: inventors and discoverers. Thomas Edison was always a favorite. He not only invented many of the technologies that shaped the last 100 years, such as movies and recording, but he also invented the modern research and development laboratory. Not many recognize Christopher Columbus as an entrepreneur, yet I feel that is what he was. While it is true that he had miscalculated where he was, he had been sure he was within sailing distance due west from Europe, and proved it. In the process, he negotiated with monarchs to have the enterprise under his control and opened a New World. However, my absolute favorite is Benjamin Franklin. His influence on the world went well beyond his business acumen. As a writer, scientist, patriot, diplomat, humorist and thinker, he embodied all the qualities I admire about America. A great believer in education, he gave the best advice an entrepreneur can have: An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
All three are crucial, yet the most important is having a “cafecito”.

What sacrifices in your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Being successful in business is very much about staying ahead once you get ahead. That takes constant reinventing, planning and pushing. At times, it is difficult to know when you have stopped working that day or that night, so in a way, you sacrifice time with the family.

What is your favorite quote?
"The pessimist sees difficulties in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunities in every difficulty” - Sir Winston Churchill

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
It is my opinion that you should always be yourself and be comfortable with who you are. Thinking for yourself sometimes takes you to unconventional conclusions. A person has to trust his analysis and discard convention that is not based on facts. The Wright brothers were humble bicycle repairmen; they defied the convention of the time on what would fly and how, by analyzing and experimenting in unconventional ways.

Biggest mistake made?
I am very critical of myself, so the quantity and quality of my mistakes is truly impressive. On the other hand, without mistakes, there is no learning, so I’m fortunate to have had such a good education. However, if there was to be one mistake, I would say it was suppressing my spiritual side. To understand yourself, and to recognize that we are material and spirit, is to reach a consciousness from which happiness flows eternal. The longer one fails to see that, the less fulfilled he will be.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
When we began our practice many years ago, there were three areas in which architects were doing little or no work. Today, in part through our contributions to architecture and increased awareness, they are commonplace. Meridian was designing spaces for media and communications companies, a large portion of our clientele. We have been described as the “DNA” of the industry, as we have designed for new and changing technologies, as well as for new and changing business environments. Another is our goal of better design through the “humanization of space,” which has become an ever-growing reality as many companies adopt our gospel: the idea that spaces are designed for people. Finally, at the core of our firm is the emergence of sustainability as a form-giver in present day architecture. We founded our company, Meridian Design Associates, when the idea of conserving energy and the environment was revolutionary. Now it is a mainstream concept. This notion was extremely important to us, leading us to name our company “Meridian” (after the solar meridian) in preparation for all the solar energy and sustainability projects we would do. Today, the efforts to make our planet a better place through this consciousness are generally embraced.

Antonio Argibay, AIA, is a principal of Meridian Design, an award-winning architecture and design firm headquartered in New York City with offices in Miami and Geneva, Switzerland.

The company has designed broadcast and media facilities for major global corporations such as CNN, Telemundo, Lifetime, HBO, ABC, NBC and CBS. Their work for Lifetime was voted the “Best Workspace” in 2007 by Reader’s Digest in the “Design & Style” category. Argibay and his work have been featured in Broadcast Engineering, The New York Times, The New York Post, The New York Daily News, EFE News and other leading national and international trade and consumer publications. He received his Bachelor and Master’s degrees from Pratt Institute.

To learn more about Antonio and Meridian, visit www.meridiandesign.com

Addy Perez-Mau > www.heavensentjewelry.com

Addy Perez-Mau Founder / Designer Heaven Sent Jewelry

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
An entrepreneur requires VISION, COURAGE, and STAMINA. A vision derives from a dream, without courage one will never take a chance and stamina allows you to take steps each day towards turning your vision into reality. An entrepreneur is only as strong as their family.
An entrepreneur has to be mentally tough in dealing with many demands. There's no guidelines.... you are the leader, innovator and the implementer. Entrepreneurship forced me to learn fast on a tight budget.

What did inspire you to start your business?
My children and Oprah Winfrey inspired me to begin my business. After working in the Engineering and Technology field for over 9 years, I was laid off from an awesome job. Two subsequent employment opportunities would have left only an hour each day with my children.
Heaven Sent Jewelry was formed in order to save family ties.

How did you finance it?
I had a nest egg saved up that allowed me to set the foundation for my business. Thank God that both my parents taught me a strong work ethic and ability to budget and save my money. These traits have been so essential in running my business.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
My culture has influenced my business with my new jewelry line. When I married, I did not see any multi-cultural wedding cake toppers. So I added some wedding cake toppers that are Latinas and Latinos plus Quinceanera figurines. In addition, I also introduced my “Lilian wedding jewelry line” that was featured on BODAS USA La Revista . Some of my designs were worn with gowns by International Designer Mitzy during the BODAS Launch in January 2008. The jewelry has various romantic Spanish love themes on them adorned with Swarovski crystals and fresh water pearls. They have been very well accepted by Latina Brides.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
My faith has given me the strength, courage and patience in dealing with dark times. My ability to handle each challenge has resulted in countless blessings. As a result, many doors have opened, some which still seem surreal.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Time has been the biggest challenge for Heaven Sent Jewelry. Trying to run a home-based business while caring for two little ones and having a husband that travels extensively presents many challenges.
These challenges forced me to utilize technology in order to grow my business.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
At this point, there are so many opportunities that it is a major challenge to incorporate them all into my business plan.

What was your childhood ambition?
When I was a child, I worked in the fields harvesting crops at a very tender age of 5 in Central California. Having experienced this type of experience, I longed to have a nice house, nice clothes and a good job.
I never thought that I would have a Master’s degree or have my own business.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Maria de Lourdes Sobrino, Founder and CEO of Lulu's Dessert® Corporation, one of the largest and fastest growing Hispanic owned businesses in the United States. While attending the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Convention, I recall Maria serving on a panel and sharing her experience as an entrepreneur.

Maria was so down to earth and told everyone the reality of business. Her experience inspired me to continue my quest. In 2007, I was invited to speak with her about the “Secrets of Successful Women”. Upon our closing, she encouraged me to write a book about my life experiences.

Ruiz Food Products, Louis Ruiz, founder of a multimillion-dollar company, nearly 2,500 employees, and a place in the Small Business Administration's Hall of Fame.

When I was a college student, I had the opportunity of meeting Mr. Ruiz through my mentor, Carmen Navarro. I enjoyed listening to his entrepreneurship experience. I few years later I meet Fred Ruiz at a conference. It was encouraging to see how this family business started and where it is now!

Daniel Gutierrez, International Business Consultant, Author and Speaker. I have been very grateful that Daniel has always been so positive and extremely helpful during my business journey. He has been a great role model and has always encouraged me. This friendship is priceless. Daniel also invited me to be a guest on his upcoming radio show.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Lunches have worked out better for me due to my family’s schedule.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
The first 3 ½ years of starting my business were very exhausting. My business was established in 2003, when my little girl was 2 years old and my son was a year old. During this time, I would stay up until the early hours of the morning, work on the weekends and stay involved in the community in order to promote my business.

Although, the business demands were brutal, I did not give up on my dream. I fought so hard to make my dream a reality.

What is your favorite quote?
Steven Covey “Begin with the End in Mind”

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Being unconventional can be a way of branding your business. This is what sets you apart from others as you create your path for success by creating your niche within a target market.

Biggest mistake made?
My biggest mistake was not knowing what I was getting myself into. I learned from day to day. If I knew now all the challenges and difficulties that lay ahead it would have taken a lot of motivation to begin my business. Sometimes experience and learning on your own is the best way to reach your goals and realize your dreams.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why
Absolutely, I took control of my business and branded my business nationally by being unique. I designed Swarovski book marks for authors. This idea saved my business and it attracted high profile clients.

Now in my 5th year of business, my business savvy has received national exposure, numerous awards and recognition from businesses and the community. My strong strategic partnerships have resulted in Win-Win situations. My ability to utilize technology and create a buzz for Heaven Sent Jewelry has demonstrated the power of the entrepreneurial spirit.

I also work as a consultant with a Women’s business center assisting other entrepreneurs with their businesses. Currently, I am planning to write a book about entrepreneurship.

Contact Addy at www.heavensentjewelry.com
Addy Perez-Mau
Founder/Designer
Heaven Sent Jewelry
"SBA Champion" , "Emerging Latina" , "Business of the Year"

Elena del Valle > www.HispanicMPR.com

Elena del Valle Publisher and Owner

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Imagination, an original idea, an open mind, a willingness to adhere closely to ethical principals, a desire to make a difference and help others and - lots of passion for what you are doing!

What did inspire you to start your business?
For years my mother had gently suggested I would do well starting my own business. It was a big step. I wanted to make sure I had the education, experience and skills necessary to offer something different and serve my future clients and my business. One day I armed myself with courage and took the plunge.

How did you finance it?
Seed money came from savings, credit and later reinvesting in the business.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Yes, because of what I do (providing consulting services for clients about the Hispanic market and hosting a website about Hispanic market issues) my Hispanic background helps me to better understand the issues and facilitate understanding for clients and third parties with whom I interact regularly. I think my Hispanic background also makes me especially welcoming to other groups and culture and helps me empathize.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
The desire to succeed and make a difference helps me hold steadfast. Past successes and future options motivate me to forge ahead even when the economy is weak, competition is tough and sometimes when it’s hard to see a clear path due to uncertainties in the market and media industries.

Every time someone signs up for our updates, reads an article our HispanicMPR.com website, listens to my weekly audio program or purchases one of our expert recordings my efforts are validated and my passion is fueled.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
On the consulting end, tough competition from large national and multinational organizations with competitive advantages like immense budgets, huge referral networks and lower professional standards.

On the publishing end, technology that is ahead of users and the challenges of a changing media environment. At the same time, there are advantages that were unthinkable even 10 years ago.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Considering higher financial leverage.

What was your childhood ambition?
To see the world and learn about other cultures. Thanks to work and personal trips I have been privileged to accomplish my goal in part and hope to continue learning and exploring the magic that is our world over the coming years.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Paul Tudor Jones – a self made millionaire, he finds ways to make the world a better place. For example, he converted a former hunting concession in the world famous migration area of Tanzania in Africa into a protected game viewing area, allowing millions of migratory animals safe passage; and converting the former poachers in the area into conservationists who help maintain and protect the lands they used to poach.

Mike and Alana, owners of Perfect Earth Tours - This determined and dynamic couple are in the process of opening a rare 100 percent ecologically sensitive project. A village of 25 tents will remain open for three months every summer to provide an opportunity for visitors to enjoy all the wonders of nature and the Canadian Yukon have to offer. They believe in the concept so wholeheartedly that they financed it themselves completely and hope to serve as a role model for future projects.

Marci Shimoff – a successful author, speaker and entrepreneur who inspires people to find happiness within independently of financial wealth and social status. She built her business from scratch and wrote a guidebook to happiness.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
I prefer lunch or breakfast.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
At one point I worked full-time and studied full-time. Dedicating all my spare time to completing my masters degree, and later my law degree, while working full-time, left precious little time for friends, family or romance. As an entrepreneur and small business owner my personal life suffers similar challenges.

I strive to provide the best support I can for clients and my business while maintaining a personal and business balance. In addition to national consulting work and speaking engagements, my new project with HispanicMPR.com (short for Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations) keeps me very busy.

Making the website stand out requires publishing unique content, daily articles, and audio and video content, including an hour long program I host with special guests who are national Hispanic market leaders and newsmakers.

What is your favorite quote?
Do unto others as you would have done unto you.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Bucking the trend or being a trendsetter can sometimes be unwelcome by others. In the end, I measure success in many ways including the positive impact of my efforts on others and how I feel about what I’m doing. I hope that my energy and determination are leaving a positive mark on others and helping in a small way to make our world better.

HispanicMPR.com began as a book project to help professionals across the country, including Hispanics, understand the Latino market and how to reach Latinos effectively with marketing and public relations tools. At the time, there were no books on the topic and to this day it is the only title to address marketing and public relations targeting Hispanics.

I started out writing it with a colleague. After he dropped out early on, I realized that no single individual possessed the knowledge and experience necessary to do justice to the topic. At that point, I began the unconventional job of inviting submissions from colleagues and experts from across the country; overseeing the project, contributing to and editing the book. Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations Understanding and Targeting America’s Largest Minority was the work of 19 authors. It was the first, and until now the only, book in its category recognized as Outstanding Academic Title by Choice magazine, part of the American Library Association. The book has also been used as the main textbook in several university courses. After Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations was published, we continued the conversation on the eponymous website.

The website is also unique and a trailblazer. Although when we started it there were bloggers on the Hispanic market space and mainstream media publications, no one was publishing unique and original daily articles with email notification to subscribers. HispanicMPR was also the first website to offer an audio program with national experts discussing relevant topics about America’s largest minority.

Biggest mistake made?
I don’t believe much in regrets. I am the result of all the experiences I have had until now. Past experiences, including the ones that seemed bad at the time like not getting a job I wanted, being discriminated against, or being denied a promotion or a leadership opportunity I deserved helped fuel my entrepreneurial desire and grow. They also helped me realize and appreciate that the value of independence and personal fulfillment are subjective.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why
Yes, I like to think out of the box. Entrepreneurs are by their very nature innovators. Innovation in America comes from small business. Small businesses and their leaders have the desire, willingness and flexibility to sometimes do the things others only dream of. Some of today’s entrepreneurs will grow and become the corporations of the future.

HispanicMPR.com was the first website to address the issue of marketing and public relations targeting Latinos with original content instead of collecting content from mainstream and Hispanic media. HispanicMPR.com was among the first forums for weekly audio podcast interviews in English about the US Hispanic market. Recently we added video content and our first 30-second ads.

Almost from the beginning we went out of our way to make things easy and accessible to as broad an audience as possible. By clicking on the play button our audience could listen to the recordings on the website without downloading any special software. We were the first to offer marketing and public relations advice through the HispanicMPR audio podcast program on iTunes and other major podcast directories. And, we were also the first to offer a program about reaching Hispanics with marketing and PR tools to listeners on their mobile phones.

We have come a long way in a short time. Now, we have had repeat guests and soon we will announce the top podcasts for 2007. HispanicMPR.com was also the first website to offer exclusive and unique downloadable and CD audio presentations by national experts on Latino marketing and public relations topics.

Contact Elena at http://www.hispanicmpr.com/

About Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations
Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, also known as HispanicMPR.com, is an open website and companion podcast audio show featuring original content including articles and interviews with leaders, newsmakers and experts on America’s largest minority. Subscribers and visitors are invited to share their comments.

The website and podcast serve as a forum for the exchange of information and ideas on Hispanic marketing and public relations. Our Resources Section is chock full of useful information including a nationally recognized book and 2006 Choice Outstanding Academic Title, guest articles, and audio recordings of presentations and extended interviews with national Hispanic market experts. Sign up for free email updates and visit our Resources Section for exclusive downloadable audio recordings at http://www.hispanicmpr.com./

Alicia Morga > www.consortemedia.com

Alicia Morga CEO of Consorte Media

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Passion! I eat, sleep and breathe Consorte Media, because I believe in what we’re doing: helping the world’s biggest brands reach Hispanics online with relevant, effective marketing campaigns.

What inspired you to start your business?
I was working as a venture capitalist covering online advertising, and I saw first-hand how neglected the Hispanic market was online. I believed that with the right technology and approach, I could fill the gap and convince major advertisers that it is essential for their brands to connect with this incredibly rich and dynamic market online.

How did you finance it?
I boot-strapped the company myself the first six months. I spent those early months solidifying my vision to build the first online marketing company focused on the Hispanic market, building a high-quality team and developing the initial components of the technology infrastructure. When I felt confident that the company was on a solid path towards success, I reached out to the best VCs in Silicon Valley. We are backed now by The Mayfield Fund and Sutter Hill Ventures.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
I would say yes, and no. I’m Mexican-American, so obviously, everything I do in my life comes from that deep cultural base. But, on the other hand, being Hispanic doesn’t mean I know anything about what Hispanics do or respond to online. That’s why I love the premise of our business; through testing and analysis, Consorte actually measures the effectiveness of each and every online advertising campaign to see if it really does resonate with Hispanics. That means we can deliver results to advertisers based on real data, not just anecdotal evidence. My whole premise for starting Consorte was to bring measurability and accountability to Hispanic advertising. While my ethnicity may provide me with a general idea of what cultural messages Hispanics respond to, only the testing and tracking done by our technology platform shows what is actually so. What I care most about is helping advertisers understand that it is crucial for their brands, and their bottom line, to connect with Hispanic consumers online – and that’s a business issue, not a Hispanic one.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I just keep my long-term goals in sight. I won’t feel like Consorte Media has reached its full potential until all of the world’s largest brands have exciting, relevant advertising campaigns targeted to Hispanics online. We’re a long way from this goal, but I believe it is possible.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
One of the biggest challenges we face at Consorte is overcoming stereotypes about Hispanic advertising. Many marketers think that if they slap together an ad in Spanish and place it on one Spanish-language site, they’ve done all they need to reach Hispanics. But that kind of haphazard approach does not fully value the Hispanic consumer, who is not only tech savvy and smart about being “marketed to”, but is also more than just a Spanish speaker (in fact, many Hispanics prefer to read ads in English). If advertisers aren’t crafting sophisticated, targeted ad campaigns that resonate with each of the diverse cross-sections of Hispanic consumers, they aren’t paying enough attention to this highly important and fast growing demographic.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
I wish it were faster and easier to hire the top people we need! But it takes time to build a dream team, and Consorte is growing very quickly, so it’s a constant challenge keeping our staffing growth on pace with our sales growth.

What was your childhood ambition?
To be an author and a scientist. I haven’t written a novel yet, but I do feel like the approach I’m bringing to Hispanic online advertising is a scientific one: hypothesize, test and prove.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Oprah Winfrey, Mary Kay Ash and Eddie Lampert. Because they were not afraid to take risks to achieve their dreams.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Lunch. One thing I learned in the venture capital world is to never eat lunch alone – there are always things to learn and people to meet.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I work very long hours, plus I travel a couple of weeks a month and my work life is not always predictable. So it sometimes means having to cancel on friends at the last minute, or missing out on a weekend snowboarding trip. Being always in the office, on a plane or at a meeting can take its toll on your personal relationships, but my family and friends are very supportive of what I am doing.

What is your favorite quote?
“You must be the change you want to see in the world.” – Gandhi.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
No, not when you are a Hispanic woman entrepreneur – because that in itself is pretty unconventional! That said, Consorte Media is taking Hispanic marketing to a whole new level by proving in a measurable way that Hispanic advertising is hugely important to the future of the world’s biggest brands. And that climb is not always a straightforward path, so being unconventional helps.

Biggest mistake made?
Our business is so fast moving, I make too many mistakes to count. And as I sit here trying to answer this question, I honestly can’t think of a huge mistake I’ve made, I just have the impression it’s a lot of little ones. And I think that’s the secret to success: don’t dwell on mistakes, get up, dust off and keep going.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why
I do, because Consorte is taking on the conventional advertising market and showing marketers that not only do Hispanic consumers online matter, they can be reached effectively and measurably. I’m committed to testing the old stereotypes of what works in this market, including the one where Hispanics are a niche market and don’t deserve or need the same cutting-edge technologies as the general market. Hispanics are the general market. Today Hispanic is a marketing preference, expressed in a myriad of ways, no different from being a woman or Jewish or athletic. It’s only when the entire advertising industry starts to understand the complexities of the Hispanic market that they will start to think more innovatively about how to reach Hispanics. Now is the time.

Contact Alicia Morga at www.consortemedia.com

About Consorte Media

Consorte is the leading provider of online marketing solutions targeting the Hispanic market. Through its media network of premium content sites, its extended advertising network of third-party sites and its targeted lead generation services, Consorte provides companies with multiple ways to connect with Hispanic consumers online. Consorte applies its Spanish-language media expertise and deep knowledge of the Hispanic consumer market to generate high-quality results for its customers

Vivian R. Isaak > www.magnumgroupinc.com

Vivian R. Isaak President Magnum Group, Inc.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Vision, passion, determination, and the ability to lead with your heart.

What inspired you to start your business?
My passion for languages and the need to raise my son on my own.

How did you finance it?
I did not have any seed money to start the business. When Magnum was 5 years old, we procured an SBA loan of $25,000 to buy equipment.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
I grew up in Argentina. The connection with the Western Hemisphere is part of my heritage, a personality trait that influences my business as well as my personal life.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Adversity gives us the chance to regroup and change. I take it as a challenge to find new ways of growing the business.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
After September 11, one of our clients cancelled a major contract. The challenge was to bring in new business during a time of national crisis while keeping the number of employees intact and the banks happy.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
I would grow the business faster.

What was your childhood ambition?
Work for the United Nations.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Lee Iacocca, Golda Meir, Leonardo da Vinci

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
I like to schedule business meetings on or about 11:30 am. The timeframe allows for ample time to address business issues at the office and a smooth transition to a relaxed meal at one of the wonderful restaurants in our area.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I sacrificed week-ends and vacation time.

What is your favorite quote?
The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug. Mark Twain

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Difficult? It’s fun!!!

Biggest mistake made?
Sacrificing week-ends and vacation time.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why
More than an innovator, I consider myself an inspired rainmaker. I can make things happen.

Contact Vivian R. Isaak at http://www.magnumgroupinc.com/

About Magnum

Magnum Group is a leading provider of a full range of services designed to support global business communications and help you zoom in on the linguistic needs of a global audience: technical and medical translations from and into most languages, editing & proofreading; linguistic consulting; multilingual desktop publishing; website localization; multilingual versioning of corporate and industrial videos, PSAs and commercials; subtitling; videoconferencing; e-learning, conference interpreters and equipment. Magnum Group works with a worldwide network of certified translators, editors, and SMEs in various fields to meet the highest quality standards.

Alberto Gonzalez > www.gustorganics.com

Alberto Gonzalez Owner of Gusto Organics First Certified Organic Restaurant in New York

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Like Sir Winston Churchill used to say, you need to the ability to go from one failure to another without losing the enthusiasm…

What did inspire you to start your business?
I always saw New York as probably one of the most sophisticated societies in the world but in my opinion the city had a very pour overall quality of food, and was also a very damaging area to the environment. Therefore there was an opportunity to thrive doing the right things right. (Somebody needed to do something about it…I decided to take a small step…)

How did you finance it?
I brought all my savings and my two former partner’s savings, and that was not enough so I had to raise another $800,000 but when something is meant to be everything flows so I met the right people who helped in many ways.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
In our case it is decisive because we created the first certified organic restaurant in New York and the food we serve is absolutely Latin. I believe to be Latin in this particular situation is an phenomenal advantage.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
One of the main sources of self esteem comes from starting and finishing things, so for me to quit was never an option. Besides I’m completely persuaded that if you really believe in something the likelihood of success is truly enormous.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
To be able to make better mistakes in less time. We needed to dramatically increase the speed of learning… two day before the opening of our restaurant I had only $3,800 left in the bank… A slower learning pace could have resulted in bankruptcy even before the opening…

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
In the overall picture honestly nothing. We are really doing the things in the way we believe are right. About the operations, many things, at this time we improve about 50% every day…Still a very long way to go…

What was your childhood ambition?
To be a jazz musician.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Einstein, Richard Branson and the owner of IKEA (I don’t know his name…)

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Dinner

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I don’t think I’m a business success, anyhow in order to come to this point I left my home town Buenos Aires with my family and friends and it has been two years since then…

What is your favorite quote?
“Everything happens for a reason”

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Not really and on top of that it is very rewarding!

Biggest mistake made?
Many, but the one that comes to my mind is the construction company that I hired. I select it from out of five companies and they were really terrible. My entire mistake.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Absolutely! There are many creative people in the world (those who envision a different world..) but just few innovators (those who create a different world…) the difference is the execution. I promised to create the first certified organic restaurant in New York and I did.

Contact Alberto Gonzalez at http://www.gustorganics.com/

Martha E. Galindo > www.translationsandmore.com

Martha E. Galindo President and CEO Galindo Publicidad Inc.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Several things….A true desire to be independent, the ability to connect the dots anywhere at anytime. A fearless attitude towards uncertainty in many arenas, like cash flow to meet the needs of the business and the family. The trust and moral support of your loved ones.

What did inspire you to start your business?
A combination of circumstances. The perception that there was a need for someone with my background to serve a niche among mainstream advertising agencies that needed to have cultural competency when creating something in Spanish. Too many badly written pieces were being paid then and monolingual companies were not able to evaluate what was being translated It was back in 1993 in Pennsylvania. My business evolved to serve many more industries and not just Advertising and PR type of content.

How did you finance it?
The first 1000 dollars were given to me by my husband then. I had two small accounts already. It was profitable from the start. After a short while, I opened a line of credit to handle my accounts payable and keep it going.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Absolutely. The formal education in Mexico and the US along with life and work experience in Mexico, Chile, Argentina and the US always gave me an edge to better serve and understand the challenges of existing clients and to bring new clients in.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I have been told that I am strong and passionate. Life and business are a maze. That s the fun! I find support and inspiration in many things and in many people. One door closes, another one opens. We have to be aware of the many turns and locks that exist out there. There is no such a thing as all dark… ever. There is always light on the way. My 3 children have been a motor too to keep me going.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
I see two.
1) The transformation of a lot of the volume of translation work from a craft to the learning and coordination of professionals using automated and sophisticated tools
2) To find ways to cut costs when a global fierce pricing competition exists today.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
I would like to be able to add new lines of services faster and profitably. I have just started to add Global Sales services for a very unique type of company with prospects in airport facilities in every corner of the world. Very challenging and promising. We will see. A lot to learn.

What was your childhood ambition?
To change the world regarding women’s role in any society. To open eyes regarding the biggest waste of resources on earth. The talent of women.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Carlos Slim, Juan del Bosque, (my maternal grandfather) and Eugenio Garza Sada, the founder of my alma mater in Mexico, the Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey. People with vision at different levels of influence. These are people who changed their communities and saw business as a mean to provide solutions to more important matters than just making money.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
I am flexible. At different stages of my life I have switched depending on family priorities. No preference.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
In a way it is a way of life. While being a student, school was always first. Then fun. So, responsibility and achievement go together…
You make constant adjustments to balance the act. There are ups and downs. However, all adjustments and choices of the where the when the why etc. have an emotional and a price tag.
Emigrating and seeing brothers and parents once or twice a year has been one important price, for example. It is part of the personal growth, and they respect it and support it.

What is your favorite quote?
No guts, no glory

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Not really. I tend to ignore the small talk anywhere. Many things are relative to culture and perceptions. However, I grew up with very few doubts of what was right and wrong. It served its purpose and it came from my parents and grandparents. You mature. Many things are so relative.

Biggest mistake made?
Financing an unprofitable venture for marriage reasons.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
For women in business, maybe. For technology, no, I do not adopt new technologies until all the bugs are tested by others, I do not believe in paying the price of the novelty. Too much lost time with no ROI.

Contact Martha E. Galindo at www.translationsandmore.com

Jose Villa > www.sensisagency.com

Jose Villa CEO of Sensis

What do you need to be an entrepreneur? A love for what you are doing. Being an entrepreneur is pretty much a roller-coaster ride, so if you don’t absolutely love what you are doing, the dips will be unbearable.

What did inspire you to start your business?
I’ve been starting businesses since I was 10 years old. I can’t really pinpoint an “ah ha!” moment when I was inspired to start Sensis. If there was one moment that set me on a course to eventually start Sensis it was getting my first computer (an Apple IIc when I was 9 years old).

How did you finance it?
I didn’t have any outside financing when I started Sensis. I built the company organically based off of revenue (novel idea, huh?). It was tough at first (I moved back in with parents and started living off “Cup O’Noodles” for a while). A few years in, I was approved for an SBA Small Business loan that helped with expansion.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Absolutely! A big part of our business involves marketing to Hispanic online. In fact, that is how we started – building bilingual Web sites for major brands. Being Hispanic (and bilingual and bicultural) provided me the knowledge to service our first clients.

Probably more importantly, I feel that having grown up as the child of Cuban immigrants gave me the work ethic and determination to become a successful entrepreneur.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Adversity is a daily part of the game when running your own business. I have faced serious adversity more than one time, in the form of possibly having to close my business. I got through it with the support of my family. I couldn’t have gotten where I am today were it not for my family.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
We have faced the possibility of going under many times. About 5 years after starting the company I faced the biggest challenge. We were not doing well financially, and my sole partner decided to leave. I faced two very unpleasant scenarios – 1) shut down the company or 2) let go of all of our employees, drastically cut overhead and essentially start-over. I chose starting over.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
We have grown very quickly over the last few years and there have not been a lot of processes in place for how we do things. I would like to have these processes established for all aspects of the business (that is one of my goals for 2008)

What was your childhood ambition?
I wanted to be just like my older brother and be a successful businessman.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
My father Jose R. Villa, Sr.– Along with being the man I admire most in this world, he was an honest, pragmatic, and analytical entrepreneur that understood both the costs and benefits of owning your business. My father taught me the importance of integrity and honesty, and that life and business success require balance.

My older brother Jorge Villa– my older brother Jorge was my childhood idol and the entrepreneur I modeled myself after. My brother taught me the importance of relationships in business, and that you have to have fun to succeed.

My friend Danny Allen – Danny is a good buddy of mine from business school and a colleague that started his own business, Admixture, about a year and a half ago. He is one of the most natural entrepreneurs I know. He’s a great salesman, he loves what he does, he has such an infectious personality and he’s funny as hell. If I wasn’t an entrepreneur myself, I would want to work for someone like Danny.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
I am a morning person and love breakfast. I am all about early morning breakfast meetings.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I have had to give up a lot of personal time to be successful. That is one of the most difficult issues I grapple with today – trying to find a healthy balance between my work and personal life. I naively thought during my early entrepreneurial years that when my business grew I would have more personal time. Boy was I wrong!

What is your favorite quote?
No hay mal que por bien no venga

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Yes, especially as your business grows and matures. When you start a business, it’s usually because you’ve come up with a better mousetrap. But as you grow, you need to establish process and scale. It becomes much more difficult to innovate. A key challenge I think mid-sized companies face is the ability to innovate and do things in unconventional ways.

Biggest mistake made?
Partnering with friends and family to start my business.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why
Yes – I like to think that I am constantly trying to innovate and offer new capabilities and services to our clients. I love the fact that I’m in an industry that is constantly evolving – I feed off the change and it spurs to me innovate!

Sensis is a full-service multicultural interactive agency providing technology, creative services, and strategic insight for top-tier clients looking to target U.S. General Market, Hispanic, African-American, Asian-American and GLBT consumers and business audiences.

Founded in 1998, the agency has made an impact for many of its powerhouse clients, including the U.S. Army, the California Lottery, United Healthcare and Southern California Edison. Sensis’ interactive marketing experience includes strategy, analytics and emerging media capabilities, such as mobile marketing, blogs, podcasting and online video. For more information about Sensis and to experience its work, visit www.SensisAgency.com

Contact Jose Villa at http://www.sensisagency.com/

Rudy Rivas > www.hispanicinsure.com

President of Hispanic Health Insurance

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Determination and a deep Passion about your product or service.

What did inspire you to start your business?
Cuban Background, my Grandmother and Uncles always spoke about Education and having your own business.

How did you finance it?
I saved all my money, sold off everything that I owned to start this business. Bought a inexpensive vehicle back in 1990, and moved back home with my parents (who helped immensly).

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Of course being Hispanic is something that stirs inside of us, we are "passionate & creative" folks by nature.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Life is full of adversity, ultimately it is up to each of us to keep a positive attitude, it helps that I surround myself with Positive people.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
When you start any business, finding clients is the toughest challenge. It certainly was mine at the start, with time that all changes.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
I would make Health Insurance Policies easier for folks to understand, the biggest problem with my industry is that the public is confused about plan designs etc.

What was your childhood ambition?
Since I was a child and grew into my teen years, I wanted my own home with a nice big backyard. (I grew up in a small 800Sq. ft. home).

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Miguel Mardueno (Owner of Los Toros Meat Markets & Real Estate Developer), Juan Cardenas (REMax Commercial Real Estate Agent) and Tony Plana (Actor & Activist)

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Tomayos, Cuban Bistro, and Cuidad

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I still work long hours and also weekends.What is your favorite quote?"If you don’t know where you’re going, you will never know when you get there"

What is your favorite quote?
I like the Nike moto "Just do it".

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Not difficult- Stay true to yourself

Biggest mistake made?
(Monitary) Selling our Ocean front property located in Santa Monica California in 2003 before the "Huge" price increases!

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
In business you will hear this word quite a bit "NO", I have attending many meetings where I pitched my Idea of Marketing to Hispanic Business Owners, corporations were not willing to give me Co-Op monies to promote my ideas. I had to fund this project myself, a true innovator will not accept defeat.

Contact Rudy Rivas at http://www.hispanicinsure.com/

Dr. Steven R. Blackman > www.bametropolis.com

Publisher of BA Metropolis Magazine

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Be certain that you are passionate about the business concept and focus an undying attention on the end-goal (vision). Persist and be prepared to work long hours. Also, a higher tolerance for risk (e.g., financial, career, etc.) is essential.

What did inspire you to start your business?
My “media mentor” and now business partner, John Kuhn III (Founder), had highly impressive experience in the publishing business and his enthusiasm was infectious. Also, I had a strong desire to work in Latin America and “scratch my entrepreneurial itch” for a long time.

How did you finance it?
At the beginning, the founding partners in our business (including myself) invested our own personal funds to get the Company off of the ground. Later, we invited friends and family to become shareholders, followed by higher-profile, more sophisticated investors.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
When encountering the inevitable bumps in the road, we have all continued to focus upon the end goal. If the entrepreneur is able to maintain this focus and rally others around the dream, anything is possible. Also, it is important to pre-plan when you will make critical “Go-No-Go” decisions. Fortunately, because of the success of our business, we were able to reflect and make thoughtful “Go” decisions with confidence.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Perhaps most new businesses find that seeking out and attracting outstanding talent is the biggest challenge. This was the case for us, particularly that we were founding a business outside of our native country. However, we have persisted over the years and have been able to hire team members that have taken us to whole new level.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
The toll that international business travel takes on us, particularly between North and South America, is challenging at times.

What was your childhood ambition?
Well, I certainly didn’t imagine that I would eventually have the title of “Publisher” on my CV. As a young child, I wanted to be paramedic working with the fire department.

Tell us about two entrepreneurs that you admire?
John Kuhn III, who is the CEO of CDS Media, would have to top my list.

Les Wexner who founded Limited Brands, Inc. has an outstanding story regarding his rise in the entrepreneurial world.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Lunch works, however drinks after work are less disruptive for all parties, I have found.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Clearly, time away from friends and family is by far the biggest personal sacrifice. Starting up a new business from simply an idea (“aire”) demands that a tremendous number of work hours need to be put in – there is no way around it.

What is your favorite quote?
The harder I work, the luckier I get. (Thomas Jefferson)

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
In the media world, you must be at least a bit unconventional to be successful. It is expected and accepted.

Biggest mistake made?
I think that having an MBA under my belt would have been extremely beneficial in the role I played in starting up CDS Media, Inc.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes, I feel that I have capabilities as an innovator. However, I have found the most innovative ideas, at least at CDS Media, have come about as a result of a number of creative minds sharing their thoughts through lively brainstorming and debate.

BA Metropolis is a publication of Camino del Sur (CDS) Media, Inc. CDS is an international media firm with offices in Buenos Aires, Argentina, San Francisco, California and New York City. CDS Media, Inc. is currently in the process of establishing offices in Santiago, Chile and Montevideo, Uruguay. The company’s objective is to develop the FIRST CITY MEDIA NETWORK throughout Latin America. Execution of this objective has been well underway for three years. In September 2005, Buenos Aires Metropolis Magazine was successfully launched to establish the city lifestyle brand. Expansion throughout Latin America has begun with the launching of three additional titles: Punta Del Este Metropolis, Santiago Metropolis, and Montevideo Metropolis, in Q1/Q2 of this year as well expanding into additional markets with City Websites

Contact Dr. Steven Blackman at www.bametropolis.com

Lilian de la Torre-Jiménez > www.bodasusa.com

Publisher of Bodas USA La Revista, the first Spanish-language bridal magazine in the United States

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Passion for the industry you are working in, good planning, excellent networking, solid vision, knowledge about your target market, and willingness to establish the “mastermind alliance”.
What did inspire you to start your business?
I had a very prestigious position as a senior reporter at La Opinion and my stories frequently made it to A-1 over the fold, but the turning point came in 2000 after Nuestra Gente national magazine assigned me to write an article about wedding planning for Latinos for ‘ciberespacio’, the column I used to penned, and to my surprise I found very few available sites in Spanish and no Spanish-language bridal magazine in the US so I immediately registered the website www.bodasusa.com and started to do the research about my target market and wedding industry. But it was not until 5 years later that I left my reporting job to launch the magazine. That same year I attended the first Hispanic Magazine Summit that took place in Puerto Rico.

How did you finance it?
From the monies we made from the consulting and PR jobs at Jimenez Communications Inc. We have a fortune 500 company as a client for public relations and consulting and also provide services for various California Community Colleges. The revenues from the public relations and consulting jobs have financed our publishing business.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Being Hispanic is the foundation and the heart of my business. Our motto says it all: Tu Boda, Tu Cultura, Tu Idioma (Your Wedding, Your Language, Your Culture). Bodas USA La Revista prides on the motto.
Equally important is speaking the language and having knowledge of the differences among the many Hispanic cultures is a distinguishing mark of our new magazine. The editor is from Costa Rica and has decades of experience as a journalist here in the US, I was born in Mexico and raised in the US, and the reporters, contributors, columnists and freelance writers are US Latinos of many countries from Latin America and that reflects in the editorial pages but nevertheless we make it appealing to any Hispanic. We make sure that the terminology will be understood by a Cuban as well as by a Mexican. The articles are written in Spanish, they are not translations.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I think about the many organizations that are behind me, the many successful Latinos that are lending a hand with their know-how as my Board of Advisors and remind myself that I quit a prestigious reporting job to be successful as an entrepreneur.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Being turned down by a top New York public relations agency who stated their client would very unlikely be interested in buying advertising in a Spanish-language bridal magazine or any Spanish-language magazine for that matter, when their client prides on offering the Latino market services in Spanish.
I’m determined to change their mind with a top quality editorial magazine and to make Bodas USA La Revista, the Spanish-language bridal magazine of choice for any advertisers who wishes to reach the Latino consumer that the future bride and groom represent.

I welcome the challenge to attract and retain advertisers and that is why I have applied for ABC audit membership, because I want the advertisers to know that we are committed for the long run and that we are a credible publishing company with a great and innovative product.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Delegate more. I need to start working for my business more and not in my business. As a former journalist and editor it is very hard to start wearing the entrepreneur hat from one day to the next and leave all editorial matters to the great team I have assembled nationwide. I’m working on it though!

What was your childhood ambition?
My dream has come true. I always wanted to be a reporter, for Television or Newspaper, would go around the house pretending to have a real mic and interview everybody in my family about their daily activities or goals, etc. When I broke a story along the Washington Post in 1995 I knew then that I had achieved my childhood ambition.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Maria de Lourdes Sobrino, CEO of Lulu’s Dessert, for making history in her industry for her ready-made gelatins many years before Jello entered them into the market.

Leila Cobo, Executive Director of Latin Content/Programming, Billboard. I met her in 1995 when I covered City Hall in Los Angeles and I have seen her become one of the most influential Latinas in the music industry.

Christy Haubegger, founder of Latina magazine for making history with the first bilingual magazine. I have read almost every Latina magazine since it came out.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Lunch.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
The time away from my two girls and my husband. I was in tears when I finally closed the magazine and sent to printers and my both my girls gave thanks to God that night during our bedtime praying for “allowing my mom to finish the magazine so that now she can spend more time with us,” the younger one echoed her sisters wishes. It is tough being a professional Latina mom and entrepreneur.

What is your favorite quote?
Cesar Chavez Sí Se Puede.
I chanted it a couple of times, when we finished uploading files to printer of our premiere issue. It felt so, so good.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
No. As a reporter you always strive to break news or be the first to report on something, and the conventional way will not lead you there. I would page people at airports, track them down, until they granted me an interview and they respected that.
Now as a magazine publisher, we are unconventional in everything we are doing because we are the first Spanish-language Bridal magazine. I think being unconventional is good when you are respectful of others.

Biggest mistake made?
I have made many, but tell myself, lessons learned, move on. That is why I rely on my board of advisors so I won’t make the same mistakes. I’m also a client of the Orange County Institute for Women Entrepreneurs (IWE) and they help me stay focused on the important aspects of growing my company from an established publishing company to a successful national publication.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why
Yes. We are making history as the first Spanish-bridal magazine in the US and the reviews we have received so far indicate that we have surpassed many people’s expectations and that makes the whole editorial team feel proud to be part of a great and innovative editorial product.

Contact Lilian at www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/jimenez/bodasusa_2008spring/

Happy New Year!

The team of editors and contributors that bring you hispanicentrepreneur.blogspot.com want to wish you all the best in this Holiday season!

Arminda Figueroa > www.latin2latin.com

CEO of Latin2Latin

Latin2Latin Marketing + Communications LCC, offers clients a bridge to the Latino consumer by developing strategic marketing programs from concept through actualization

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Courage and determination! I also think you need a passion for your business idea, an unlimited amount of energy and a sense of humor….for those challenging days when things go wrong!

What did inspire you to start your business?
The amazing adrenaline rush of perpetual freedom in creating new ideas, exploring areas never explored, learning and challenging myself every single second of my day; and the exciting feeling of seeing an idea come to life.

How did you finance it?
Latin2Latin is a marketing & communications agency, so I didn’t need a huge capital investment – just a commitment of time and an ability to pay general household expenses while I was building a client base.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Yes and no…my business is focused on helping companies build brands and generate awareness in the Latino market, so being Hispanic gives me insights and experience there. I also have a strong work ethic and my 20 years of combined Hispanic and general market marketing experience is equally important.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Generally, I’m a very optimistic person and I do think that’s an important quality for an entrepreneur. But when things go wrong as they sometime do, I find that we can allow problems to seem bigger than they are and that it helps to set a problem aside for a day or so to get a better perspective on the issues and opportunities surrounding it. I also seek advice from my inner circle of collaborators and mentors to get their perspective and keep me grounded.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
We’ve been very lucky with having interesting and fun clients to work with. I guess the biggest challenge to date has been how to balance a growing client base and hiring staff. I find I need to expand my staff as more clients come on board, but I’m mindful of being careful to not overly commit to hiring – I’d hate to have to bring on a new employee and not have enough work for him/her.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
I can honestly say I wouldn’t change anything. I love what I do, I love learning from my clients and I really enjoy working with the other people at L2L!

What was your childhood ambition?
I am natural entrepreneur; it is in my DNA. As a child, I would set up and run lemonade and candy stands. When I was in college in Puerto Rico, my friend Patty Pedroza and I created ‘Dreams’, a clothing boutique based out of my mother’s den! Patty and I even went to NY’s Fashion District to set up accounts with clothing designers. We sold the most fashionable chic couture to all our college girlfriends – it was a huge success! Latin2Latin will always have an entrepreneurial spirit and the desire to find “treasures” for our clients.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
My paternal grandparents Carmen & Francisco “Don Paco”; my mom and my dad, Arminda & Francisco, from whom I inherited my entrepreneurial genes coupled with moral values, kindness in my heart, my drive and determination, plus my impeccable work ethic. And, my long time friend Amilda, for her incredible business savvy and successful career.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Drinks.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Starting a business can be hard on relationships, especially when you have to work late one night and get up at 5am the next morning to get back on a plane. But you just have to put as much energy into relationships that you put into your business and try to find a balance – like everything in life, balance is key.

What is your favorite quote?
“If you can dream it, you can do it.”…Walt Disney

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Yes, some people can feel threatened by your style and approach to tackling an issue. When I was a kid, I was never doing what other kids were….I think I was always interested in what was off the path rather than following the route that everyone else was taking.

Biggest mistake made?
Oh, so many to single out one…I learn from them every single day.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I let others comment on that. I’m so busy connecting my clients with great concepts and people they never imagined they could possibly work with…I am a match-maker of sorts, I am a “marketing connector”.

Contact Arminda at http://www.latin2latin.com/

Salvatore Cavalieri > www.cilantroanimation.com

President of Cilantro Animation Studios

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Love for what you do. Do not give up easily, be dedicated, be thoughtful, be ahead of the curve work more than your employees / partners.

What did inspire you to start your business?
Hunger and the fear of it.

How did you finance it?
Any good entrepreneur should use partly its own funds to show others and to yourself that you truly believe in your idea. If you use other sources of funds, these should come from partners/advisers that are 1000 times better than you. By the way, a new business where the entrepreneur places no money and sweat of his/her own does not rank very well with me, since everybody has ideas of great businesses and fortunes, but few have the guts to actually mortgage their house and break your kid’s penny bank to make your ideas reality. The world is full of dreamers and very few doers.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Of course, because it is nice to be Latino American and richly cultured; moreover, I have always wanted to demonstrate that we may come from “the third world” but our ideas and creativity surpasses the first world thinkers, just watch and see.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
The assurance that I have done a solid business plan.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Like many businesses obtain the first customers and keep them satisfied all the time.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Move the office to the beach with many coconut trees and a few monkeys, maybe a Llama too.

What was your childhood ambition?
Be a pilot or build a plane.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
My father (he was the most creative and ethical business person, I have ever met) & Steve Jobs

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
I prefer not to talk about business while I eat.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Time lost with love ones, lost vacations and weekends; mortgage your house 3 times.

What is your favorite quote?
No existe enemigo pequeno. There is no small enemy.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
No, it is easy, you need to think and consult with a knowledgeable people and be able to decide if the advice is right. Finally, you need to be continuously informed of the world around you.

Biggest mistake made?
Be too cautious sometimes.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes, I am. I tend to observe pretty well the world around me and think 5 to 10 years ahead. I tend to shock people with my predictions.

Contact Salvatore at http://www.cilantroanimation.com/

Miguel Zabludovsky > www.slatenyc.com

CEO of Slate NYC

Slatenyc is an ec0-luxury laundry and dry cleaning company in New York City.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Money, or the ability to raise or attract it.

What inspired you to start your business?
A dissatisfaction with the product I was buying, combined with a profound change in my life (breaking up with a long-time girl friend), supported by the appearance in my life of someone who pushed me to accomplish my dreams.

How did you finance it?
Sold my car, invested my bar mitzvah savings, asked family and friends for the rest.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Yes. In everything from contact with employees, with customers, with suppliers, with the community to how long you take to pay your bills.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
It’s 90% inertia, 10% that the idea that the worst day as an entrepreneur is still better than the best day doing anything else.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Finding the right product/market fit.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
The learning curve rate. We should be constantly learning faster.

What was your childhood ambition?
To be the owner of my own company that had its headquarters in a glass building along Reforma (the main avenue in Mexico City)

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Steve Jobs, Ferdinand de Lesseps (builder of the Suez and Panama canals), and my dad.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Coffee actually. I’d rather not do business when I eat.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Less time with family. Less time for myself. Less time with my girlfriend. On the other hand, having little spare time makes you more efficient in the way you spend it.

What is your favorite quote?
It doesn’t matter what color is the cat as long as it catches the mouse.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Only if you care about the status quo.

Biggest mistake made?
I’ll give you three. Thinking small. Not being thorough enough with my own ideas and projections. Not minding the details. I can keep going for two more pages…

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Absolutely. Because we transformed an insight into the relationship between people and their clothes and turned it into a business within an industry that had been doing the same thing for 50 years.

Contact Miguel at http://www.slatenyc.com/

Marx Acosta-Rubio > www.callonestop.com

CEO of Onestop

Onestop is the fastest growing Office Consumables Division for Busy companies. With a customizable approach in helping clients do their job better

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Vision of how to solve an existing problem, or how to add value to an existing situation.

What did inspire you to start your business?
I got fired from a competitor. I couldn't work for him any more, he lacked integrity.

How did you finance it?
I took my Moms life savings of $77k, and used it as collateral to get a credit line at my bank.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
It allows me to see things differently.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Its called "malnutrition". I had no choice, no other option was available to me.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Learning how to go from a small family business, to a growing company.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Having a pull instead of a push in the market place.

What was your childhood ambition?
To be wealthy.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Steve Jobs, Richard Koch and David Lewis.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
All. Each one has a specific and different purpose.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Less time with my wife.

What is your favorite quote?
"In order for things to change, you have to change." Jim Rohn

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Not at all. But the current is against you.

Biggest mistake made?
Not taking bigger risks earlier in my company's growth.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why
Yes. You have to innovate to be successful as an entrepreneur.

Contact Marx at www.callonestop.com/

Maribelle Lieberman > www.mariebelle.com

Coming up!